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by socalgal25 hours ago |
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upvoteby paxys5 hours ago|
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There are separate columns for 2 ADULTS (1 WORKING) and 2 ADULTS (BOTH WORKING). I think you are mixing up the two.

And the non-working adult is taking care of children, so reducing childcare expenses.

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upvoteby socalgal23 hours ago|
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I am not mixing up the 2

First row, for https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06075

    | 1 adult                                        | 2 adults (1 working)                          |
    | 0 Children | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 0 Children |1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
    | $29.31     | $61.37  | $83.72     | $107.95    | $41.83     | $50.47 | $54.77     | $63.97     |

    1 adult + 0 children  = $29.31
    2 adults + 0 children = $41.83
The only way these numbers make sense if if you assume one income. Then

    1 adult + 3 kids = $107.95
    2 adults + 3 kids = $63.97
Given the first example was one income, this 2nd one makes no sense. 5 people cost more than 4. These numbers are wrong.
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upvoteby Jtsummers3 hours ago|
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Look at the childcare number in the breakdown table. 1 adult and 3 children has an estimated $71k/year childcare cost, while 2 adults and 3 children (1 working) has a $0/year childcare cost. So some things go up (transportation, healthcare, food), but others go down. Childcare going down by $71k pretty much entirely accounts for the difference you're questioning (~$34/hour difference just on that entry).

Also, two adults (assuming married) will pay lower taxes than one adult for the same income. That's another ~30k difference per year in the breakdown table for the 3 children case. If your tax burden is lower, you can afford a lower wage while bringing in the same net.

EDIT: Tax rates in the US are roughly half (except for high income earners, way beyond these living wage estimates would be relating to) when you're married versus single.

https://www.irs.gov/filing/federal-income-tax-rates-and-brac...

Check out the 22% bracket on that page, the range is doubled for married people filing joint versus single. That's a huge savings each year. Tax savings of two married people and any number of kids is a major contributor to why the living wage drops when someone gets married versus is single with the same number of kids.

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upvoteby 5 hours ago|
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upvoteby NewJazz5 hours ago|
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1. This is not ai generated.

2. Did you look in the costs breakdown? You'll probs find your answers there.

3. I am guessing having a spare adult to take care of 3 children instead of paying for childcare is probably the difference.

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upvoteby bitcurious5 hours ago|
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Child care.
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upvoteby socalgal23 hours ago|
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that's not either

See the first row in this table: https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/06075

Compare 2 adults (1 working) 3 kids to 2 adults (both working) 3 kids

First off, you'd expect it to be

     1 adult = X
     2 adults = X + X(0.?)
Where 0.? is something less than 1 because 2 adults need less than 2x the money

Similarly for kids

     1 kids = Y
     2 kids = Y + Y(0.?)
     3 kids = Y + Y(0.?) + Y(0.?)
You'd expect 2 kids to be less than 2x 1 kid. And you'd expect 3 kids to be les than 1x + 2x 2nd kid. Each kid is cheaper for various reasons like hand-me-downs etc...

But instead, under 2 adults 1 working we see

     1 adult  = $29.31 (from one adult)
     2 adults = $41.83 (so X + X * 0.42)

     2 adults 1 kid  = 50.47
     2 adults 2 kids = 54.77 (so + $4.30)
     2 adults 3 kids = 63.97 (so + $9.19)
Why does the 3rd kid cost more than the 2nd?

Then you can also compare 1 adult 3 kids with 2 adults both working + 3 kids

     1 adult + 3 kids                 = $107.95
     2 adults (both working + 3 kids) = $55.67
Assuming that $55.67 is wages for each that means we're comparing

     1 adult + 3 kids                 = $107.95
     2 adults (both working + 3 kids) = $55.67x2 ($111.34)
We already established that above that adding one adult is only $12.52 a month yet here, suddenly that adult only costs $3.40 a month.

Again, these are nonsense numbers.

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