<prompt> Human: I get several job interview offers out of CA but never take them cause the way I figure it you need 200,000 a year just to live a normal nuclear life. How close am I to this figure? I think this because cost of living rumors, product costs on Price is Right, and housing shows on HGTV. Edit: somewhere near Palo AltoEdit: This post made me ask this. Edit 3: nuclear family Husband, Wife, 2 childrenmy case 4, Wife might have a part time job for spending money or to help out every now and then. Edit 4: Thanks! Got a lot to think about.  <response>: Everybody in Palo Alto near your age has two people making that much income. The cheapest condo for sale in Palo Alto is like 1.5M.Meanwhile, those sixty-something couples you see walking around bought their place forty years ago, have it paid off, and have their property taxes essentially frozen at those old levels. 