If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you are not alone. According to a United Way study titled “The State of ALICE in Florida,” nearly half of Florida residents are struggling to make ends meet. The high cost of living is a major factor.
ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is a term used by United Way to describe a growing number of people who work hard yet still can’t afford basic necessities. In Florida in 2023, the ALICE Household Survival Budget was $33,804 for a single adult and $86,688 for a family of four with two adults, an infant and a preschooler. Basic costs varied substantially by county.
The study reports that most renters spend about 30% of their paycheck on housing and utilities. Add in food, transportation, health care, technology and child care, and it’s not hard to see why so many Floridians are struggling financially.
The United Way study also breaks down costs by county. In Miami-Dade County, the average cost of living for an adult is $42,228. Broward County’s is $42,012, and it’s $42,024 in Palm Beach County.
Of the 20 most common occupations in Florida, 13 paid less than $20 per hour in 2023. And of all workers in the top 20 occupations,
36% lived in households below the ALICE threshold.
Fifty-seven percent of cooks and 56% of janitors and building cleaners fall into the ALICE category. Fifty percent of cashiers, 47% of stockers and order fillers and 45% of servers are also under the threshold.