New Britain resident Juan Marin, 22, is one of many who said they are struggling to get by while making the minimum wage in the city. 

He said he pays $850 every week for rent, not including utilities, and about $1,100 after paying them. He said after his payments, he does not have enough left over to pay for groceries and basic necessities. 

“With the current hours I’m pulling at my job, I would be cutting pretty close to making it,” Marin said. “I’m barely cutting it for a few days.” 

Some residents said New Britain is becoming too expensive, and the minimum wage is not livable unless you work excessive hours. They say it is hard to pay for rent and other expenses like groceries and transportation. 

“I work at a restaurant, so I mostly get my food from there,” Marin said. “But my money mostly goes to my rent and fixing stuff around my place.” 

Ethan Roy, 20, said he is looking to rent an apartment but cannot move out of his home because it is too expensive. 

Some New Britain residents say they are having a hard time trying to become independent and move out of their parents’ homes because the cost of living is becoming too high. 

“The cost of rent is too expensive for the average minimum wage worker to keep up with,” Roy said.  

He said the only way someone would be able to afford some of the prices is to work about 60 hours a week. 

“It takes a toll on a person and their livelihood,” Roy said. 

He also said that the luxury apartments being built in downtown New Britain were questionable decisions, considering that most people would not be able to afford the rent. 

“It seems as if paying a mortgage on a house is a smarter financial decision than paying for rent,” Roy said.