EPI’s Family Budget Calculator measures the income a family needs in order to attain a modest yet adequate standard of living. Compared with the federal poverty line and the Supplemental Poverty Measure, EPI’s family budgets provide a more accurate and complete measure of economic security in America. The Family Budget Map offers a view of cost of living for a two-parent, two-child family across the United States at the county level.

Here are some discussion questions you could ask with helpful resources to transition to as a follow-up to using the interactive:

• How different would your life look living in different areas of the country? [COMPARE: Select a City to Live In]
• What kind of apartment can you get with the same amount of money in different cities? [COMPARE: Find an Apartment]
• What steps do you take when you are trying to build out a budget to determine where you can afford to live? [CASE STUDY: Budgeting]

About the Author

Brian Page

Making a difference in the lives of students through financial capability is Brian’s greatest passion. He comes to NGPF after fifteen years of public school teaching where he was the ‘11 Ohio Department of Education recipient of a Milken National Educator Award, the CEE Forbes Award winner, and a Money Magazine/CNN "Money Hero". He served on the working group for President Obama's Advisory Council on Financial Capability. He has private school experience as a Trustee for the Cincinnati Country Day School and was a past Ohio Jump$tart President. Brian holds a BBA and M.Ed. When Brian isn’t working alongside his NGPF teammates he is likely spending time with his wife, three children, and dog; hiking, or watching Ohio State football.