Affordable housing via minimum wage rates

“Santa Fe will become the first U.S. city to explicitly link the high cost of housing to the minimum wage.” After a 2027 increase to $17.50 an hour, the minimum wage will be adjusted annually based on a blend of CPI and the Department of Housing and Urban Development fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit in the area.

On January 1, 2026, 19 states raised their minimum wage.

Governing | Should Cities Link the Minimum Wage to Housing Costs?