How do you live a medicore lifestyle in LA? (San Francisco: apartments, rentals)

[MordinSolus]

How could anyone need $200,000 a year to live in San Diego? Even if you have a large family that's a very nice lifestyle. That's about what I live on in Los Angeles and disgruntled la native calls me a spoiled rich boy...

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by MordinSolus

How could anyone need $200,000 a year to live in San Diego? Even if you have a large family that's a very nice lifestyle. That's about what I live on in Los Angeles and disgruntled la native calls me a spoiled rich boy...

You are... well, I don't know about the "boy" part.

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by PDF

Now that's just insane.

If you have a wife and 2+ kids that depend on you and you want to give them a good life in an expensive urban area, it's not unreasonable to want to make at least 200k before living there.

Suburbs or rural areas, totally different.

[MordinSolus]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

You are... well, I don't know about the "boy" part.

I'm not sure if you're saying I'm a man or a girl.

[disgruntled la native]

A fully grown adult male way past boyhood.

[jm1982]

If you aren't making a lot of money, I don't think it necessarily means you are living a mediocre lifestyle in L.A

One definately has to be a bit creative though and sort of think outside the box. If you are really struggling to just make ends meet it does make it hard though.

There are a lot of free things that one can do in L.A though which is nice. It all depends on what your idea of a good time is. Some people can have a blast going to a free museum event or something , but others might only be able to enjoy themselves if they are at the hottest new club in town.

When you add kids into the picture and the desire to own a home in a nice/safe area of L.A , I don't think $200,000 household income is that crazy really. Kind of sad, but it's the truth.

A lot of people make the claim that couples living together spend less money, but I don't think that really works out in reality.

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by jm1982

If you aren't making a lot of money, I don't think it necessarily means you are living a mediocre lifestyle in L.A

One definately has to be a bit creative though and sort of think outside the box. If you are really struggling to just make ends meet it does make it hard though.

There are a lot of free things that one can do in L.A though which is nice. It all depends on what your idea of a good time is. Some people can have a blast going to a free museum event or something , but others might only be able to enjoy themselves if they are at the hottest new club in town.

When you add kids into the picture and the desire to own a home in a nice/safe area of L.A , I don't think $200,000 household income is that crazy really. Kind of sad, but it's the truth.

A lot of people make the claim that couples living together spend less money, but I don't think that really works out in reality.

Good point. 200k combined income at least. It doesn't have to be just the husband (or wife) making that much. But if you want a stay at home spouse, 2+ kids, and a nice lifestyle in expensive urban area you're gonna need a 200k household income minimum.

[MordinSolus]

Why does it have to be an expensive urban area? There are expensive urban areas in the world where $200,000 is barely enough for a single person to live a nice lifestyle.

[UKWildcat1981]

Fact people are forgetting, If you make 200k in today's America you might take home 120k after taxes, still wealthy its not like your living like a king unless you live in a **** poor state in the South while the cost of living is ridiculously low.

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by MordinSolus

Why does it have to be an expensive urban area? There are expensive urban areas in the world where $200,000 is barely enough for a single person to live a nice lifestyle.

World, not really United States, unless some parts of Manhattan and San Francisco.