> but things like health insurance can easily cost $1000+ a month if you want full coverage Yeah but if you multiple that by 12, you get something like $12k, o

> but things like health insurance can easily cost $1000+ a month if you want full coverage Yeah but if you multiple that by 12, you get something like $12k, or $15k for argument's sake. That $15k does not explain the disparity between a €55k/yr salary and a $150k/yr salary, so clearly there is another force that is at play here.