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My wife and I are living and working in California, the U.S.. We both work, earning over $300,000 annually, and are raising four children who are still in school. According to regulations, with our salary, we have to pay over 30% in income taxes, which amounts to about $100,000 per year. Recently, at the end of the tax season, we have also had to pay an additional $20,000 or more.
Each year, we also have to spend $25,000 on mandatory property taxes, $8,000 on electricity and water bills, $2,000 on fire insurance, and $40,000-50,000 on property damage repairs and maintenance costs. If we were still paying off a mortgage for their home, we would need to add about $60,000 more per year. Fortunately, we have already paid off our mortgage, so we do not incur this expense.
As for living costs, our family spends about $3,000 a month on food. Other expenses, such as extracurricular activities, sports equipment for our children, clothing, shoes, occasional dining out, birthday parties, gas, and car insurance, total about $7,000 a month. In total, our food and living expenses amount to $50,000 per year.
Hence, if there are no unusual events, we can only save around $20,000-30,000. Buying a new car or taking our children on a summer vacation can require a few years of saving.
My siblings, who immigrated to the U.S. about 10 years ago with our help, earn just $40,000-50,000 annually. They have to get some healthcare and housing support from the state. They also get about $10,000 refunded after paying taxes.
Without this support, they would have a hard time getting by on an annual income of $50,000 since rent for a three-bedroom house in California is currently around $40,000 a year.
This shows that life in the U.S. is not as easy as many people think. Without a stable job with a decent salary, it will be difficult to get by given the taxes and living expenses here.
*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
