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Are both groceries & eating out cheap for Americans who earn $ (minimum wage) in the US? (retrofed.com)
submitted 1 day ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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This part gripes me when they travel to "less fortunate" or "poor" countries where eating out is $0.50-2.00 but the same or similar thing is $30-500 in the US, however: people earn different levels of income. Like in that "third world" country, people may only live with $10 a day while Americans live with either $7.25 / $15 per hour in minimum wage, so it's not comparable as to why the prices are seen as "cheap" by Americans.

Now, put it this way: if an average joe were to earn the FEDERAL mandated minimum wage of $7.25, is buying a whole weeks worth of groceries affordable with that alone (excluding rent, utilities, insurance, etc)? Do you consider a $200 semi-fancy dinner at a restaurant (not over the top luxurious, but formal & fine dining) with family or friends "cheap" in the US whilst earning $15 (or even $30) per hour in minimum wage?

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[–] 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Are you trying to ask how many hours of work it takes to buy a reasonable meal at a restaurant? Minimum wage in Florida is $15. You can buy something that would make a day's food or one cheap meal (without a drink) at a cheap restaurant for that one hour of work, but of course we pay taxes so the net in the paycheck doesn't equal $15. Also you can't just exclude housing like that. Nobody can use groceries if they aren't housed.

At $15/hour and 25% going to taxes, gross about $2,000/month. Net about $1500 Average rent here 2,500 so with one roommate, rent is still taking most of that.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 day ago (1 child)

    25% taxes seems high. Everything I can find online suggests that it would be about half that for someone earning $15/hour.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 day ago

    Social security is regressive so the floor is around 8% before FWT but you are probably right, I am coming up with 16%. Still - I don't think it's enough after fixed costs to go out to eat, unless you can get 4 wage earners in your household (which is not impossible, I did, and some of my kids did as well)

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