Same, being DINKs we literally save 85% of our monthly cash flow while maxing out two IRAs, two employer matched 401ks, and two HSAs, and carry no debt.
We don’t even make that much by US coastal standards.
My retired grandparents have total monthly expenses of $3k but make $12k/mo from their pensions plus around a million in retirement accounts. Their entire careers they barely made more than the median household income and had kids.
The advantage of making a lot of money in expensive cities is you get an amazing deal when you pay “world rates” for things. But living in cheap medium size cities gives you an absolutely fucktonne of purchasing power. Our total monthly expenses including rent, utilities, internet, food, insurances, gas is less than $2.5k and we live in a nice well appointed flat.
