Exactly so. At least in the US, most of the mandatory budget goes to "the neighborhood" in the form of rent or mortgage, and people know this. Especially when

Exactly so. At least in the US, most of the mandatory budget goes to "the neighborhood" in the form of rent or mortgage, and people know this. Especially when we're talking about small numbers percent-wise, the intuition that it's better to be earning slightly more than your neighbors, rather than slightly less, is accurate. It translates to more discretionary income, more savings, more optionality.