It has been so bad for Gen Z as inflation continues to increase in the United States and mostly in the state of California as Gen Z thinks that they would have to keep living with their parents for a long time and thinking that they will never own a home in the future.
As inflation continues to increase in the US in the past decade since the Coronavirus Pandemic, it has become harder for most of Gen Z as they think it is impossible for them to buy a home.
It is not only house prices that has increased, but it also has to do with monthly spendings such as groceries, bill payments and even just for rent.
As of 2026, the average cost of living in the US is around $6,545 per month for one household that has to do with expenses, bill payments and mortgage according to an article from Motley Fool Money.
Groceries has to be the most critical with inflation as people need it for food and for one person, the cost of groceries for one person is roughly around $365 according to instacart.
The rise of the cost of living is one of the main contributes of why there has been protests not just in the US alone, but also in other countries as the problem continues to rise for most of Gen Z.
One single income is not enough to be able to pay rent in most states as specifically in California as the average minimum wage is around $16.90 per hour and the monthly rent can cost up to $2000 for just a one bedroom apartment unit.
Former governor of the US Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh stated at the Senate Banking Committee said “Inflation is a choice and the Fed must take responsibility for it.”
With this statement from Warsh, this shows that the federal government is responsible for inflation as being able to afford living in the US especially for Gen Zers is becoming impossible for them to be able to afford living or buying their needs.
College tuition has been a major problem as it has continued to keep rising over the years and has students paying a significant amount per academic year and have to work a job on the side just to help pay for it.
According to Education data, the cost of tuition per academic year at a four year in-state public university would cost up to $27,146 and for a total of four years costs $108,584.
Out of state students would have to pay more as they live on the college campus paying $45,708 per academic year and for over four years the number gets even higher as these students are paying $182,832.
With the rising prices of many needs for everyday life to be able to live, it shows how the struggles for Gen Z continues to keep getting worse and mental health continues to experience stress, anxiety and depression because of how unaffordable to just live can be.
