Living Wage

Why is this important?
 

A living wage guarantees that a person working a 40-hour week makes enough to pay for essentials: housing, food, utilities, transport, health care, and some recreation. A living wage differs from the minimum wage in that the latter is set by law and may fail to cover basics. 

Living Wage
 

According to Indicators Northwest,  in 2008 Park County's median household income was $39,705.  The median household income for Montana  in 2008 was $43,792.  Park County is ranked 23rd out of the 56 counties in Montana.

The graphs below were created using Park County, Montana residents and organizations, along with EPI's "Basic Family Budget Calculator", and the Consumer Price Index.

 

 

2010 Living Wage Livingston, Montana-One Parent/One Child

 Item
Cost
Monthly Housing
$677
Monthly Food
 $317
Monthly Child Care
 $640
Monthly Transportation
 $390
Monthly Health Care
 $249
Monthly Other Necessities
 $224
Monthly Total
 $2,497
Annual Total
 $29,964

2010 Living Wage Livingston, Montana Two Parent/Two Children

Item
Cost
Monthly Housing
$800
Monthly Food
 $643
Monthly Child Care
 $880
Monthly Transportation
 $540
Monthly Health Care
 $377
Monthly Other Necessities
 $302
Monthly Total
 $3,542
Annual Total
 $42,504

 

Sources:

Housing: Indicators Northwest and confirmed by realtor Mark Pesa

Food :CPI for food in 2007 similar to food prices in 2010. Kept this the same as the 2007 EPI's calculator.

Child Care: Childcare Connections and local childcare centers.

Transportaion/Health Care/Other Necessities: These rates use the 2007 EPI's Basic Family Budget Calculator.

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