$15/h is a bit more than $30k per year. Taxes are quite low for this income bracket, so you get to keep most of it. As a graduate student I got to live on about

$15/h is a bit more than $30k per year. Taxes are quite low for this income bracket, so you get to keep most of it. As a graduate student I got to live on about half that much for 5 years. The rent on campus was low and the health insurance was cheap, but neither was free. Living in campus meant I didn't need a car, but in my last year I did buy one, a 13 year old SUV for $1350. Accounting for inflation, that would still be less than $2000 in today's money. Out of curiosity, I just checked on edmunds.com, and you can still get a 13 year old SUV of similar condition for a bit less than $2000 today. So, I think it's possible to make a living on $15/h. Is it ideal? No.