[vorpalhex]

Aside from less than a quarter point (0.24) from Covid, wages have in fact risen with inflation and that small difference is also likely to disppear soon.

https://usafacts.org/answers/are-wages-keeping-up-with-infla...

It is in fact rents, especially with mandatory add-ons. The actual cost of renting a place is a lot more than the direct rent payment.

[sethjgore]

Frankly the statistics do not feel right - I remember jobs that were easily found at $15 per hour in 2012 and cost of everything was insanely low. One bedroom / 750, McDonald burger, $1, McDonald soda $1, a pack of beer $7. Now eveything is easily double or triple and the basic jobs are still at $15.