Making it a big city that is pretty much right on the US average.

So how much do you need to make in Atlanta to live cheaply, but not dangerously? IE, a moderate apartment sharing expenses with a roommate. Not married. No kids. Able to feed and clothe yourself with a little spending money left for occasional restaurant visits or a night out.

And note that the restaurant visit and night out money isn't really needed to be defined as "Living" wage.

$750 a month for rent (1/2 of a $1,500 rental)
$400 a month for food
$400 a month for a vehicle (all in)
$200 a month for utilities
$150 a month for clothing
$300 a month (generous IMO) for restaurant and entertainment

That's $2,200 a month, so $26,400 a year after taxes. Add 9% to that to represent the employee share of payroll taxes and that's a salary of $28,776. Add another 10% for what should be pretty low State and Federal taxes (since at this wage you probably are getting big refunds, so 10% may be high) and you're at $31,650.

Divide by 2,080 hours in a work year and that's $15.22.

And you COULD be sharing a place with 2 others, not just 1. You COULD do less than $400 for a vehicle and still live. Less than $300 for eating out and entertainment.

So $15 an hour for an average US cost of living location seems pretty reasonable. Index it to inflation and local cost of living index and there you go. San Francisco, New York City, Honolulu would all be close to $20 minimum wage, but Mississippi would be $12.90 (as a state average. Probably some towns exist where it could be even lower). McAllen, TX could be $11.25 since the cost of living there is 25% below US Average.
[Post edited by Late 80s Hokie at 06/11/2021 09:14AM]