Spokane, Washington: A Cheap Place To Live?
@RichardMeister (5328)
Otis Orchards, Washington
June 1, 2016 3:21pm CST
I just read an article that said Spokane, Washington was one of the best places to live if you are earning minimum wage. It’s actually ranked third in the nation for best places to earn minimum wage. First place was Kennewick, Washington and second was Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The minimum wage in the state of Washington is $9.47. The study claims that the cost of living in Spokane is low enough that the $9.47 is the same as earning $9.92.
The truth is $9.92 an hour isn’t a living wage. I’ve always known Spokane was one of the least expensive cities to live in, but living on $9.47 (even if it’s equal to $9.92) is nothing to dance gleefully about.
There’s been talk about raising the minimum wage in the U.S. to $15.00 an hour. Many people claim that’s not even enough to live on.
One of the problems in the U.S. is the CEOs of many companies make between $587 and $829 to every $1 a regular worker makes. Yes, that is right. If a regular worker is making $9.47 an hour then the CEO is making at least $5,558.89 an hour. In an eight hour day the person earning $9.47 makes $75.76 while the CEO makes at least$44,471.12. That come out to the person earning $9.47 earns $19,697.60 a year. That is $24,773.52 less then the CEO makes in one day. In a year that CEO is paid $11,562,491.20! And that’s the low end of the CEO pay scale. It’s no wonder companies can’t afford to pay their regular workers more than minimum wage.
Back to Spokane. Earlier this year Spokane passed a law that business inside the city limits with over a certain amount of employees have to give their employees sick leave. Some companies claimed they would move outside the city limits if the law passed. I have not heard of any companies that have moved. I’m sure the companies that whined about the sick leave are companies that pay their workers chicken feed while the big cheeses are raking in the money.
I don’t think anyone is going to move to Spokane just to earn minimum wage. People may move to Spokane if they can get a decent wage because of the lower cost of living, though.
6 people like this
6 responses
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
2 Jun 16
I haven't rented an apartment in years. We have some very fancy new ones in Liberty Lake that goes for around $1,200 a month. So I imagine if you look for an older apartment complex you could find one cheaper than that. I'm guessing on average a one bedroom would be maybe a little over $1,000 a month. A studio would probably around $1,000 a month. These are only guesses.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69157)
• Centralia, Washington
2 Jun 16
@RichardMeister I was just curious. A hole in the wall place here goes for about 400 to 450. We have those apartments that are converted from 50s motels into little apartments. I feel very sorry for the folks having to live in such cramped quarters.
@suziecat7 (3349)
• Asheville, North Carolina
3 Jun 16
Minimum wage here in North Carolina is a wee $7.25 an hour and rents (in Asheville) are high. The middle class struggles here and many opt to leave. I own my own home and bought it before the boom so I'm good.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
4 Jun 16
Glad to hear you're doing well. At one time Washington state had the highest minimum wage in the U.S. I think Oregon has it now. I bought a new manufactured home in December 2011. It's a 2012 model and I have several more years to pay on it (if I don't die first). It's a energy efficient home so I received a chunk of money from the electric company for buying it. Also the electric company offered to sort of "rent" some solar panels they installed in a field. I'll have money taken off my electric bill for the next 5 years. This month they are taking off over $100. I don't use that much in the summer so the difference will be minus from my next bill and so on until I catch up in the winter to the credit (if you understand what I mean). Over the 5 years it is estimated I'll save $1,800 on my electric bill. I had to pay $2,800 to "rent" the panels so it is estimated the panels will generate $4,600 worth of electricity over the 5 years. I figured that was a good investment for my money. I'm looking forward to not having to pay an electric bill until probably next February or so. Maybe I shouldn't throw these figures around on the internet because it makes me sound like I have a lot of money–but I really don't. I just happened to have the money when I "rented" the panels.
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Jun 16
We've lived in this particular are of Southern CA all our lives - and we've stayed here essentially because this is all we know! The prospect of living elsewhere where the housing prices are much, much lower sound super enticing, but we often wonder it were possible to make equal (or close to it) wages out there as we do here . . . or at least if it's proportional to the cost of living as it is here (I'm tired, did that make any sense?). A big jump in minimum wage sounds great, but really it isn't enough to live on, at least out here. I don't see how anyone could really do it on their own at minimum wage alone.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
2 Jun 16
Yes it makes sense but I think you mean "area" instead of "are." Moving away from where you lived all your life is a bit scary. I can understand your concerns. To pack up and move without having a job lined up is a bit silly. Living here on $15 an hour with a family would be hard. For a single person (without children) who isn't out spending his/her money on foolish things could live on it here. I think even a couple without children could squeeze by on it. If you moved up to Seattle you'd be in a world of hurt. Seattle is an expensive city to live in.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Jun 16
I am surprised at that ranking, but less than $10 an hour is not a living wage by any means. You are right about our nation's businesses too.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
2 Jun 16
The ranking didn't surprise me. The information about businesses came from a book titled, "Runaway Inequality" by Les Leopold.
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
2 Jun 16
Fascinating. Meanwhile, here in Tucson, I'm paying $520 a month for a two bedroom, though normally a two bedroom is usually more like $600 or $700, and you can get a studio for $4-500 or so fairly easily. I live very comfortably on $10.79 an hour. Then again, I don't pay for cable and I don't have credit cards.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
3 Jun 16
I'm just guessing at the apartment rent based on the new apartments in Liberty Lake. I should call around because Liberty Lake is one of the most expensive areas that is close to Spokane. I don't have cable or credit cards either. I get credit card applications mailed to be all the time and it's shocking to me that they act as if 29% interest is a good deal.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Jun 16
I suppose that makes Spokane an attractive place to move to. I have been there once a few years ago and it was a mid size city pretty much like any other. But if there's a rush of people moving there, housing and other prices will rise.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
2 Jun 16
I'm sure you're right about that. However, I don't see a lot of people making a mad dash here. The winter scares a lot of people away who aren't used to the cold and snow. I know of people who have come up here from California and Florida and found one winter here was one winter too many. And many people have said something to the affect of "spending a week here one night." In other words, there is nothing to do here when it comes to nightlife.
