Single adults in metro Atlanta need $24 to $27 an hour to cover basic expenses

A single adult living in metro Atlanta must earn between $24 and over $27 per hour to cover basic living expenses, according to data from the Living Wage Calculator reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. This estimate includes costs for food, housing, healthcare, transportation, and utilities without relying on assistance.

The required hourly wage varies across the five core metro Atlanta counties. For example, a single parent with one child in Fulton County needs to make $41.80 an hour, while in Gwinnett County, the figure rises to $42.33 an hour. Childcare costs average more than $11,200 annually for one child and nearly $22,000 for two children across these counties.

Housing and transportation represent the largest monthly expenses for single adults. In Cobb and Gwinnett counties, annual housing costs exceed $19,900 and $20,800 respectively, with transportation expenses averaging over $9,000 annually.

These living wage thresholds are significantly higher than Georgia's minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and surpass average wages in several major local job sectors, according to wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In response to these cost-of-living challenges, candidates for Georgia governor have proposed different approaches. Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms supports raising the state minimum wage to $15 per hour, creating an affordable housing trust fund, and offering tuition-free community and technical colleges to help working families meet basic needs.