3 ms·

I could see a family (of even 3) struggling to live a middle class lifestyle on 100K a year in the more expensive cities in America. There's a huge difference

I could see a family (of even 3) struggling to live a middle class lifestyle on 100K a year in the more expensive cities in America. There's a huge difference between 100K in Tennessee vs 100k in NYC or SF.

btilly 13y ago
This depends on your expectations about what a "middle class lifestyle" includes. Let's take NYC. The fact is that in New York City, the median household income is about $50k/year. (Last year it was $50,895.) So if we define a "middle class lifestyle" as that which those in the middle can afford, well, by definition you're going to get by very well following that lifestyle while making $100k/year! Even if your household has 3 people in it. But if you define "middle class lifestyle" according to the way you think that you peer group is living, well, I've known people making $200k+ who experience "trouble getting by". Now I can understand making more, choosing to live better, and running into financial trouble because of it. But if you do that and blame anyone but yourself, well, I've got nothing in the way of sympathy for you.