I spent some time reading those threads you’d linked and totally agree with what you’ve said there. Yes, people can live in SD on $80K/year (gross), even with 2-3 kids, but they will not be able to adequately save for retirement, kids college expenses, emergency savings, etc., AND live in a clean, safe neighborhood with good schools, take vacations and/or go to amusement parks every year, eat out once or twice a week, have kids in extra activities and classes, etc.
Some people are willing to make more sacrifices by squeezing a family of five in a very small apartment or condo, never/rarely eat out, never take vacations outside of a tent camping trip, not have their kids attend any extra classes/activities, etc…and I think they can actually make it; but very few Americans are able or willing to live this way over the long run.
And if you want to live the good life in sunny San Diego, you can forget about keeping the A/C on at night in the summer. 😉 (We like it very cold as well.)
