Man, I was doing some research here and found out that the minimum wage in the United States is quite different from what I imagined. It’s not like Brazil, where there’s a single national value. In the US, the federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2009, but each state can set a higher amount. For example, some states pay $5.15 (Georgia and Wyoming) and others go up to $17.50 per hour in Washington, D.C.

The interesting part is that the minimum wage in the United States varies a lot depending on where you work. If you’re in New York, you earn between $15.50 and $16.50 per hour. In Washington, it’s $16.66 per hour. But here’s the problem: even in states with higher wages, the cost of living is also insanely high.

I did the math here... with the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, working 40 hours a week, that’s about $1,160 per month. But basic expenses there are around $1,185 without rent. Then you add an average rent of $1,626 and see that the numbers don’t add up. It’s literally impossible to live on minimum wage in many places.

What I found curious is that the minimum wage in the United States hasn’t increased at the federal level since 2009, but states have been making adjustments year after year to keep up with inflation. Those earning this minimum usually work in restaurants, fast food, supermarkets, those kinds of jobs. Waiters have a different system because tips supplement their salary.

For anyone thinking about moving there, the tip is: don’t just look at what the minimum wage in the United States is, also research the cost of living in the area. Because having $2,800 a month in D.C. isn’t the same as having $1,160 in a state with a low minimum wage. It makes a huge difference.