Want to ensure your policies, programs, or wages align with real community needs? The MIT Living Wage Calculator is a free online tool that provides localized cost-of-living estimates across the United States. Designed to support policymakers, employers, and community leaders, it helps you understand the true cost of meeting basic needs—housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and more—in every county and metro area.
Key Features of the MIT Living Wage Calculator
✅ Localized Data – Access living wage estimates by state, county, or metro region, based on family size.
✅ Detailed Expense Breakdowns – See average costs for housing, childcare, food, healthcare, transportation, and taxes.
✅ Wage Comparisons – Compare the living wage to current minimum wages and poverty thresholds.
✅ Updated Annually – Reflects the most recent economic data and inflation trends.
✅ Simple Interface – Easy to use, with downloadable tables for reporting or proposal use.
Benefits for Governments, Nonprofits & Impact Investors
🔹 Support Equitable Policy – Design wage floors, housing programs, and economic development plans rooted in real costs.
🔹 Strengthen Grant Proposals – Use credible, data-backed cost-of-living metrics in funding applications.
🔹 Inform Workforce Strategies – Help employers and job programs align wages with local needs.
🔹 Track Economic Gaps – Identify where residents are struggling to meet basic living standards.
Use the MIT Living Wage Calculator to build a more equitable future—grounded in real-life data. Explore it now at livingwage.mit.edu.