Table 1
Minimum wage and living wage for a single-adult by select counties
| County | Effective minimum wage | Minimum wage level | Living wage | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County, CA (most expensive) | CA state minimum wage | $16.50 | $36.11 | 45.7% |
| Cook County, IL | IL state minimum wage | $15.00 | $20.20 | 74.3% |
| Chicago minimum wage | $16.60 | $20.20 | 82.2% | |
| Dallas County, TX | TX state minimum wage | $7.25 | $19.67 | 36.9% |
| Los Angeles County, CA | CA state minimum wage | $16.50 | $23.97 | 68.8% |
| Los Angeles County minimum wage | $17.81 | $23.97 | 74.3% | |
| Grant County, IN (least expensive) | IN state minimum wage | $7.25 | $14.50 | 50.0% |
Notes: Minimum wage level effective July 2025. Living wage is for a single-adult working full-time assuming 81% of income comes from wages.
Source: EPI Family Budget Calculator and Minimum Wage Tracker.
Previous chart: « Local Progress 2025 |Figure B| Cumulative percent change in Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index from January 2020 to May 2025 by select components