As young adults grow up and start to branch off into the adult world of work, rent, and financially supporting themselves, they are starting to realize that the cost of living is getting unrealistic.

As of lately, Boomers and Gen Xers have been coming down hard on Millennials and Gen Zers, expressing that the younger generations are not “doing enough.” They argue that young adults don’t have anything to their name because of their overconsumption of trivial things. An example of this is in 2017, when millionaire Tim Gurner struck controversy by saying younger generations would be able to afford housing if they would "stop buying avocado toast.” Thousands of people from older generations agreed with him.

Those Boomers and Gen Xers attack millennials and Gen Zers for failing to reach the same financial accomplishments that the older generations achieved in their 20s and 30s: owning property, owning a car, and paying off college debt. However, comparing the cost of things back in the day versus the cost of things now, it is unsurprising that today’s young people are having a hard time supporting themselves.

Rent annually rises, but the problem for young working people is that wages are not rising along with it. According to PropertyManangement.com, the average rent price in Los Angeles has risen 8.86% since 1980 and has consistently outpaced wage inflation. In 1980, the historical median monthly rent rate was $243. The monthly median rate alone for 2020 raised to $1,104.

“I think it’s getting way too expensive,” Santa Monica College (SMC) sophomore Daniella Josephy said. “The goal was to move out on my own soon, but now I’m worried I won’t be able to do that because of the increase in price. Rent prices are hardly manageable with the minimum wage.”

Rent isn’t the only expense that is getting unmanageable for young people. According to researchers at University of Detroit Mercy, 2020’s average cost of living for a household in Los Angeles was $64,048 a year. According to gobankingrates.com the average minimum wage worker salary is $31,200 a year. With most good paying jobs requiring higher education and experience, that leaves younger people and those without college degrees with working for minimum wage part-time positions.

Even the people who are fortunate enough to have work experience and degrees are finding it hard to land jobs that will allow them to support themselves. Many people are voicing that living paycheck to paycheck is infeasible no matter how many or little credentials one has..

Dr. Titi Afolabi shared her experience job hunting with posts on Twitter. “I have a Bachelor’s from Yale and a medical degree from Harvard and I still live paycheck to paycheck,” she tweeted on May 2.

Raising the minimum wage without raising the price of other living costs should be a start at fixing this problem. “As for job requirements and pay, I don’t think they line up anymore. We’re expected to do so much for our jobs and still don’t get paid decently,” Josephy said.

America needs to do more to ensure young people do not have to overwork themselves just to have a chance at living a comfortable life. Some great ways to make life more affordable for everybody are raising the minimum wage without raising the cost of living, making jobs more accepting towards people with little experience, and providing more higher paying jobs for people who don't have degrees in higher education. It shouldn't be the norm for young people to struggle to live while doing everything they possibly can.

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