but you can live off the 16k a chinese person earning $16,000 annually (adjusted for purchasing power parity) can afford a middle-class lifestyle in china, covering housing, food, transportation, and some discretionary spending. in contrast, the average american earning around $68,124 annually (median salary) enjoys a higher standard of living with greater disposable income for luxuries, savings, and healthcare[1][2][4]. key differences include: - **housing**: rent is significantly cheaper in china. - **healthcare**: costs are lower in china but less comprehensive than u.s. insurance. - **discretionary spending**: americans have more capacity for luxury goods and travel. while $16,000 stretches further in china due to lower costs, it does not match the overall quality of life provided by an average u.s. salary. citations: [1]   -usa [2]   [3]   cles/average-salary-per-month [4]   -immigration/average-salary-in-usa/ [5]   tml [6]   rage-salary-in-the-us/ [7]   cles/average-american-income [8]   t/heres-how-to-secure-a-pay-raise-a nd-boost-your-income-in-2025
France