$200k compensation feels like the minimum to reach anything resemble middle class lifestyle in an urban area if you don't have generational wealth

[Will be deleted]

Taxes on income is so high and housing in urban areas are so expensive that even top 5% incomes may no longer be enough to achieve the middle class symbols such as property ownership, cars and all the other things in an urban area.

It is still doable in smaller towns and villages even on significantly less money as housing tend to be astronomical cheaper, but that is not for everyone and finding jobs in those may be harder.

[WarHeRo]

true, all u gotta do is earn more. problem solved

[Will be deleted]

引用自 WarHeRo：

true, all u gotta do is earn more. problem solved

If you make $100k you like top 25% earners, at $200k it is more like top 5%. Not strange why urban areas have so much poverty, simply not many people who can afford to live in them on their own anymore.

[abcd]

us tends to not have this problem. the inequities of its wildly unregulated markets tends to make strong incomes very rewarding.

but there's also significantly fewer positions that can provide even a marginal income.

[Will be deleted]

引用自 abcd：

us tends to not have this problem. the inequities of its wildly unregulated markets tends to make strong incomes very rewarding.

but there's also significantly fewer positions that can provide even a marginal income.

Well there are people well above $100k incomes in USA that still live with roomates, in vehicles and so on, mostly due to housing in the areas they work in is really expensive.

Now imagine how it is for median earner in those areas.

[Dracoco OwO]

引用自 Will be deleted：

引用自 abcd：

us tends to not have this problem. the inequities of its wildly unregulated markets tends to make strong incomes very rewarding.

but there's also significantly fewer positions that can provide even a marginal income.

Well there are people well above $100k incomes in USA that still live with roomates, in vehicles and so on, mostly due to housing in the areas they work in is really expensive.

Now imagine how it is for median earner in those areas.

So basically, Californians.

[abcd]

引用自 Will be deleted：

引用自 abcd：

us tends to not have this problem. the inequities of its wildly unregulated markets tends to make strong incomes very rewarding.

but there's also significantly fewer positions that can provide even a marginal income.

Well there are people well above $100k incomes in USA that still live with roomates, in vehicles and so on, mostly due to housing in the areas they work in is really expensive.

Now imagine how it is for median earner in those areas.

I can't; in order for those two groups to exist concurrently there must be such irregularities in the market that housing becomes a roll of the dice even when you have wealth.

引用自 Dracoco OwO：

引用自 Will be deleted：

Well there are people well above $100k incomes in USA that still live with roomates, in vehicles and so on, mostly due to housing in the areas they work in is really expensive.

Now imagine how it is for median earner in those areas.

So basically, Californians.

New York has similarly dysfunctional property valuation, although it's a little bit harder to see.

[ꉔꏂ꒐꒒ꇙ]

引用自 WarHeRo：

true, all u gotta do is earn more. problem solved

Easier said than done, friend, especially when you don't know everyone's living situation. Not everyone's rich or is living good, don't forget about the other people.

[Will be deleted]

引用自 abcd：

引用自 Will be deleted：

Well there are people well above $100k incomes in USA that still live with roomates, in vehicles and so on, mostly due to housing in the areas they work in is really expensive.

Now imagine how it is for median earner in those areas.

I can't; in order for those two things to be concurrent there must be such irregularities in the market that housing becomes a roll of the dice even when you have wealth.

Earning high income and having wealth is two completely different things, yes having high income can help you build wealth but that require you to live frugal and that is a reason why people live with roomates or in vehicles to be able to build wealth or build it faster.

[abcd]

引用自 Will be deleted：

引用自 abcd：

I can't; in order for those two things to be concurrent there must be such irregularities in the market that housing becomes a roll of the dice even when you have wealth.

Earning high income and having wealth is two completely different things, yes having high income can help you build wealth but that require you to live frugal and that is a reason why people live with roomates or in vehicles to be able to build wealth or build it faster.

Then it isn't about property valuation at all, and they are simply choosing to be homeless.

[Will be deleted]

引用自 abcd：

引用自 Will be deleted：

Earning high income and having wealth is two completely different things, yes having high income can help you build wealth but that require you to live frugal and that is a reason why people live with roomates or in vehicles to be able to build wealth or build it faster.

Then it isn't about property valuation at all, and they are simply choosing to be homeless.

Well if you want to actually reach middle class or retire or such maybe they have to do that.

Incomes are not worth much anymore, in many places it is very possible it was better to earn $50k in year 2000 and than $100k in 2024.

[Will be deleted]

引用自 Dracoco OwO：

引用自 Will be deleted：

Well there are people well above $100k incomes in USA that still live with roomates, in vehicles and so on, mostly due to housing in the areas they work in is really expensive.

Now imagine how it is for median earner in those areas.

So basically, Californians.

Well California is probably one of the hardest states to reach a middle class lifestyle starting from zero.

On other hand the cheaper states seems to have other issues like look at life expectency of like the southern states, looks rather bad.

[AdahnGorion]

Middleclass in Urban area is high Middleclass if you want to live in a good place.
But location location location means much more than you think, so all urban areas are different tbh.

200k as a family income seems about right for middleclass in such an area. But you can do with as little as 120k family wise and still live well in many urban areas and without any needs.

The real struggle is for people making between 70-90k as a family.

[Will be deleted]

$120k seems very limited for a family especially with children, single person it is kinda decent in most places, but that is basically the starting salary for good paying field in such areas.

[Intelligent Jew Businessman]

引用自 Will be deleted：

Taxes on income is so high and housing in urban areas are so expensive that even top 5% incomes may no longer be enough to achieve the middle class symbols such as property ownership, cars and all the other things in an urban area.

It is still doable in smaller towns and villages even on significantly less money as housing tend to be astronomical cheaper, but that is not for everyone and finding jobs in those may be harder.

Not really. I own property in the most expensive city in the world and i didnt even go to post secondary school. No help from family.