[venus]

Service sector workers are most likely casual (ie not permanent part or full time) and thus their minimum wage is AUD$20.30/hr [1]

Tipping the scales further against America is that they are also fully covered by the national health insurance system, Medicare.

That said, it's hard to directly compare Australia and the USA - there's just too many variables. You are correct in that food is a little cheaper in the States; not 50% but probably 30% cheaper on average, from experience. Rent, too, is higher in Australia.

All things considered, though, I think it's pretty inarguable that a service sector worker is going to have a higher income and better quality of life in Australia. That's a consequence of deliberate economic policy. It's not without its negatives, of course - service hours in Australia are much less than in the USA, and certainly a factor in that is the higher cost of staff. For example, there is not a single 24-hour supermarket in Sydney!

[1] https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay/national-minimum-wage/pages/...