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Median, 2-bedroom rent in San Jose is $2,289. That is $27,468 annually. $15/hour wages is $31,200 annually. After paying income taxes, there's nothing left. Ev

Median, 2-bedroom rent in San Jose is $2,289. That is $27,468 annually. $15/hour wages is $31,200 annually. After paying income taxes, there's nothing left. Even 2 minimum wage earners sharing a median priced one bedroom apartment would be hard pressed to also own cars and feed and insure themselves. http://www.zilpy.com/rentalmarket/San_Jose,_CA_metro http://www.zilpy.com/rentalmarket/San_Jose,_CA_metro

r00fus 10y ago
And by "own cars" you mean "have freedom of movement" as Silicon Valley (like most of the US) has incredibly poor public transport. And CA doesn't have $15/hr wages (yet). $15/hr is above minimum wage of $10.50. That's $21,840 annual gross. I guess you can afford to live here with a lower income if a) you room (or even share a room), b) you live with parents or c) you got section-8 or something a lot less than market rate rents.
- erikpukinskis 10y ago
  You don't need to have a car to have freedom of movement. Maybe you're used to a car for comfortable movement. But there are bikes, there are busses. Sure Silicon Valley isn't the best, but if you don't have a car, you just live somewhere that's convenient to public transit. If you have a disability that prevents biking, etc, you should be able to get some level of assistance.
morecoffee 10y ago
Comparing median rent price to the lowest income earners is not relevant. Looking at the 1st percentile of rent prices would be appropriate.
- matt4077 10y ago
  I just checked San Jose, with my theory that market prices are really compressed at the lower end so as to make the median a relevant figure even for low-income people. The cheapest I could find for a 2-bedroom is 1,800, which is not far of from the 2,280 median: http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/San-Jose-CA/house,condo,apartment_duplex,mobile,townhouse_type/33839_rid/2-_beds/paymenta_sort/37.584037,-121.490593,37.009406,-122.14428_rect/10_zm/ http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/San-Jose-CA/house,condo...
jessriedel 10y ago
Why would folks making at or near the minimum wage live in median housing?

r00fus 10y ago

And by "own cars" you mean "have freedom of movement" as Silicon Valley (like most of the US) has incredibly poor public transport. And CA doesn't have $15/hr wages (yet). $15/hr is above minimum wage of $10.50. That's $21,840 annual gross. I guess you can afford to live here with a lower income if a) you room (or even share a room), b) you live with parents or c) you got section-8 or something a lot less than market rate rents.

erikpukinskis 10y ago
You don't need to have a car to have freedom of movement. Maybe you're used to a car for comfortable movement. But there are bikes, there are busses. Sure Silicon Valley isn't the best, but if you don't have a car, you just live somewhere that's convenient to public transit. If you have a disability that prevents biking, etc, you should be able to get some level of assistance.

morecoffee 10y ago

Comparing median rent price to the lowest income earners is not relevant. Looking at the 1st percentile of rent prices would be appropriate.

matt4077 10y ago
I just checked San Jose, with my theory that market prices are really compressed at the lower end so as to make the median a relevant figure even for low-income people. The cheapest I could find for a 2-bedroom is 1,800, which is not far of from the 2,280 median: http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/San-Jose-CA/house,condo,apartment_duplex,mobile,townhouse_type/33839_rid/2-_beds/paymenta_sort/37.584037,-121.490593,37.009406,-122.14428_rect/10_zm/ http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_rent/San-Jose-CA/house,condo...

jessriedel 10y ago

Why would folks making at or near the minimum wage live in median housing?