Breakdown of Expenses
Chen found that the couple’s primary expense is their mortgage, which amounts to $17,000 monthly for their $3 million home in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to this, they pay $3,000 each for property tax and private school fees for their child. Other costs, such as utilities, dining out, groceries, travel, and maintaining two cars, contribute to their total expenditure of $30,000 each month.
“My friend told me he and his wife live paycheck to paycheck. I don’t believe it because they both are high earners in tech, and he even works for Google. But after doing a little bit of math, I found out he didn’t lie,” Chen stated on X. He emphasized that this figure does not include other miscellaneous expenses, like home maintenance or entertainment services such as Netflix.
Lifestyle Concerns
Chen expressed concern about the couple’s financial situation, noting that they lack savings despite their high incomes. He pointed out that W-2 employees typically take home about 50% of their salary, which means the couple must earn around $60,000 monthly before taxes, translating to an annual compensation of $720,000. “What’s the point of living a life like this?” he questioned.
Responses from social media users highlighted different perspectives on the couple’s financial choices. One user remarked, “This is why I left the Bay Area and will never move back. I grew up there, and the quality of life is so very low compared to every other city I’ve lived in.” Another user noted that individuals living paycheck to paycheck typically do not own a $3 million home. “You’re confusing the phrase with ‘living above their means.’ They put themselves in a financially difficult situation, but they also have the power to change that at any time,” they added.
Patrick, another commenter, agreed, stating, “This isn’t paycheck to paycheck; it’s lifestyle inflation and excessive spending.”