How Many Minimum Wage Hours Needed To Afford A Two Bedroom Apartment In Your State. Have you ever asked yourself, ‘How do people manage to survive on minimum wage alone’? Well, the answer is, simply, they don’t. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, it is nearly impossible for a minimum wage earner to provide themselves and their family a two-bedroom apartment in the United States. Where does your state rank when it comes to the cost of living?