Arksansas - Where it's a crime to not pay rent.

[davewill]

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This is common sense, but a person making $60k in California would be better off than someone making $16k in Arkansas. I did a comparison on a website that breaks down cost of living. Someone making $3500 per month in Bentonville would need to make over $4800 in Sacramento to maintain the same standard of living. That's a big difference, but not as extreme as you make it seem.

$75 per week takes away $300 per month for someone with a gross income of $1333.

People make that mistake because they always compare to Silicon Valley, which is on an entire other planet housing cost-wise even compared to the rest of California. I live in San Diego, and I could get a job in Silicon Valley making 30% more, and still come out behind.