$70,648
That’s the cost of living, for basic needs, for a family of four in San Diego. More than three times the federal poverty number. Note this $70K+ number does not include things like savings, retirement savings, cable, or internet. In other cities in California, the number is even higher, but it’s high enough to me.
I figured out how much it costs us two to live here, and we are not extravagant (cars paid off, don’t eat out often, hardly travel except for work, and I spent less than $500 on clothes last year) but we do have things like cable, internet, and health and earthquake insurance (lots of people do not have eq. ins.). Let’s just say our total is not far off that number.
Un-friggin’-believable.
Just for reference, in Ohio, a family of four needs to make about $45K…almost 40% less.
When I think about how much money we have lost just to live in this effing state, I swear I get ill.