the country, $15 an hour. cornell bernard has details. >> reporter: music to the ears of many workers in mountain view. >> it is so expensive to live here. >> reporter: brother and sister jordan and naomi happy to hear the minimum wage is jumping to $15 an hour on new year's day. >> i'm looking for a job second semester. >> reporter: so extra money will help, right? >> it definitely does. >> reporter: mountain view and sunnyvale made it a joint effort by raising the minimum wage to $15. servers and cooks just learned they're getting a raise. >> very happy. a new year, more money. very happy. >> reporter: both cities wanted to give workers a chance where sky high rents and million-dollar real estate is the new normal. >> the country is doing very well and silicon valley is doing very well but that hasn't translated to worker wages. we're the most expensive in the country. >> our prices will be going up within the next two weeks. >> reporter: restaurant owner tony valle is happy to pay his workers more but has no choice but to pass the increase on to his customers. >> it impacts