Existing Living Wage Estimates

Wider Opportunities for Women calculates a "Self-Sufficiency" standard for the Boston Area (for the year 1997). Subsequent local cost increases were calculated using the BLS CPI indicator for the Boston CMSA - which between 1997 and 2001 rose by an aggregate of 12.5%

For 2 children and 1 adult working full time (40 hours/week):
$39,156 annually (in 1997 dollars) or $44,050 annually (in 2001 dollars) or $22.03/hour (in 2001 dollars)

For 2 children and 2 adults working full time (40 hours/week):
$42,564 annually (in 1997 dollars) or $47,884 annually (in 2001 dollars) or $11.97/hour (in 2001 dollars)

The Economic Policy Institute calculates a "Basic Family Budget" for the Boston Area (for the year 1999). Subsequent local cost increase was calculated using the BLS CPI indicator for the Boston CMSA - which between 1999 and 2001 rose by an aggregate of 8.2%

For 1 child and 1 adult working full time (40 hours):
$38,290 annually (in 1999 dollars) or $41,430 (in 2001 dollars) or $20.71/hour (in 2001 dollars)

For 1 child and 2 adults working full time (40 hours):
$43,178 annually (in 1999 dollars) or $46,719 (in 2001 dollars) or $11.67/hour (in 2001 dollars)

For 2 children and 2 adults working full time (40 hours):
$49,795 annually (in 1999 dollars) or $53,878 (in 2001 dollars) or $13.47/hour (in 2001 dollars)

Basic Monthly Budgets For the Boston Area (as calculated by the Economic Policy Institute):

	Basic Monthly Expenditure for a family with 1 parent, 1 child	Basic Monthly Expenditure for a family with 2 parents, 2 children
Housing (1999 dollar)	$906	$906
Food (1999 dollar)	$230	$510
Child Care (1999 dollar)	$616	$916
Transportation (1999 dollar)	$157	$221
Health Care (1999 dollar)	$308	$387
Other Necessities (1999 dollar)	$352	$439
Taxes (1999 dollar)	$622	$703
Total (1999 dollar)	$3191	$4150
Total Yearly Expenditure	$38,290	$49,795
Total Yearly Expenditure	$41,430	$53,878
Minimum Necessary Wage with All Parents Working Full Time (2001 dollar)	$20.71	$13.47