[35208654]

“Manage to live”? Is that the standard for the richest country in the history of humanity? That’s some short sighted thinking. Are those “managing to live” saving for retirement? Can they see a doctor? Can they afford to have children?

As for moving to a cheaper place… their jobs are in the city. That’s why they live there to begin with.

Have you missed the inflation crises? Have you missed the absolute fleecing of the middle class due to stagnant wages? Have you missed the student debt crisis? Have you missed the disinvestment in black and brown communities? Have you missed the ramshackle, near collapse of public transit and other infrastructure? Have you missed the teacher/police/fire/EMT/911 operator shortage? Have you missed the homelessnesss/housing crises?

What city have you been living in?

[southernplaces7]

There are so many built-in assumptions under your comment that I don't even know where to begin unpackaging what parts of it. Briefly though, I live in Vancouver, a city that's Canada's version of say, San Francisco, and yes, many people find ways to get ahead without being rich or falling into the degrading traps you seem to think apply much more broadly than they do.