HEALTH COSTS: Study Takes ‘Fresh’ Look at Cost of CA Living
The California Budget Project (CBP) published a new study this month that examines the state's basic cost of living. Titled "Making Ends Meet: How Much Does It Cost to Raise a Family in California?," the report looks at three typical California families, each with two children. To achieve a "modest standard of living," the report estimates that:
- A single-parent family needs an annual income of $36,828, equivalent to an hourly wage of $17.71, and must spend $216 (7% of monthly earnings) for health care each month;
- A two-parent family with one working parent needs an annual income of $31,356, equivalent to an hourly wage of $15.08, and must spend $330 (12.6%) per month on health care; and
- A family with two working parents must earn $44,880 a year, equivalent to both parents working full-time for an hourly wage of $10.78, and spend $330 (8.8%) a month on health care.