Good. It should be raised. By a lot.

A full time fast food worker in Australia over the age of 21 makes $24.60 aud ($16.37 usd) an hr. This wage being full time includes holidays, sick leave, paid taxes, and we have universal healthcare. A closer comparison would be the casual rate, which does not include holidays or sick leave, and you have to pay your own taxes. (You still get universal healthcare though) That rate is $30.91 aud (20.58 usd) an hour.

Prices of common things compared to a similarly sized city in the States:

3l of full cream store brand milk is $4.50 aud ($3.00 usd) 1gal of whole store brand milk is $3.09 usd

Loaf of store brand wholemeal bread is $2.70 aud ($1.80 usd) Loaf of store brand honey wheat bread is $1.74 usd

12 cheapest free range eggs $5.20 aud ($3.46 usd) 12 cheapest pasture raised eggs $5.92 usd

1 gallon is 3.7 litres.

1 gallon of the cheapest gasoline in the American city we are looking at is $4.21 usd 1 litre of petrol is $1.88 aud 1.88 x 3.7 = 6.95 1 gallon of petrol is $6.95 aud ($4.63 usd)

1 br 1 ba unit in the middle of the cbd is $500 aud a week. ($332 usd or $1328 a month) 1 br 1 ba apartment in the middle of the cbd is $1550 usd a month

Basic utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment $321.75 usd Basic utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment $330.40 aud ($219.93 usd)

Store brand pre-paid mobile plan 35GB data, unlimited texts and calls $30 aud a month ($19.97 usd) Store brand pre-paid mobile plan 40GB data, unlimited texts and calls $39.88 usd a month

Also factor in the cost of health insurance in the States, which you do not need here.

I moved to Australia from the States around 8 years ago, and the difference in quality of life compared to the relatively similar cost of living was… a huge adjustment.

We talked about moving to the States someday, but now wouldn’t consider it.