>1000 does turn into a "barely getting by"-wage That's a very privileged view of "barely getting by". All you've described is someone spending everything they

>1000 does turn into a "barely getting by"-wage That's a very privileged view of "barely getting by". All you've described is someone spending everything they make on luxuries (nicer apartment, "having fun" - whatever that implies). By that token, someone could easily be "barely getting by" in San Francisco on an income of $400k by getting a nice 2 bedroom apartment to themselves in a hot location.