Most jobs have an intended demographic of people. Right now, that's kind of screwed up because older people are occupying entry level jobs, and entry level-ready young people can't get full-time jobs at all. That means that a lot of people are currently living on a lot less than what they built their life on, so they are going to have unique problems due to the fact that their current work prospects are out of step with the demographics those jobs are designed for.
But ignoring that, and pretending that isn't the case, the "livable wage" mostly applies to people on the low end of the job market, since, by definition, everything above it is higher and will probably therefore being supporting a life with more unnecessary things in it, or more responsibilities related to family/self care.
When we're talking about a "living wage," we're talking about young people without degrees who are probably single, or at least don't have kids.
It also kind of depends on where you're living.
In the city, a livable wage in that bracket is a flat share without having to starve. You can have stuff in a stable area, and your bills and food are paid. Space is limited and therefore expensive, so you shouldn't expect to be able to live alone, and maybe not have a car.
In the country, stuff's cheaper and space is easier to come by, so maybe the wage is lower in sheer numbers, but maybe it's still enough for a trailer or renting a guest house, and probably having a used car, which is necessary in the country.
A living wage means someone is able to function with the basics of stability, food, and the necessities to keep their job.
To call a third world living a "living wage" in this kind of country is a statement that you'd like to move back to feudalism, quite frankly.
I am sick and tired of this "but the poor have TV's" statistics. From when I was living in low-end apartments, you know what? Most of them come with a TV. A TV that's older than I am and worth 5 bucks at the most, and doesn't even get reception anymore. Yeah, it has a cable, but the cable isn't necessarily hooked up. The landlords put stuff like that in there to make the place seem less cheap. It costs them nothing. That does not mean people living there aren't poor.
And a refrigerator? Are you serious? Most people don't have the resources to grow their own damn food. Without a fridge, and without space to make your own food, you have to give up on the best methods of getting calcium, protein, and a lot of minerals. How are they supposed to eat adequately in a populous country without a refrigerator? Are we seriously begrudging the poor means of storing food?
Good lord.