And that's giving each child their own bedroom and saving one for guests! I grew up with me and two siblings all in the same bedroom. (And honestly, it was alright, I'm probably better for it, and we definitely weren't poor by any measure. So, the figures above should be read as "if we spoil the children", IMO.)

A thing I think is funny is that so many people feel like their kids "need" their own bedroom, then as soon as college rolls around, "dorm life" is completely fine where they have one or more roommates living in a space that is often smaller than what their bedroom back home was.

Gross 500K, you're probably working with 300K after Fed/CA/SF taxes..

138K for rent.

76K for childcare if all four (might get a nanny cheaper)

Student loans because you both went to an Ivy League

Two cars, cell phones, real organic food, savings..

Maybe one big family vacation.

It adds up.

You won't be flying to Paris every weekend on a private jet.

For married couple you'll still be looking at 320,000 in post-tax income at least - probably more if you have 4 kids. The rent is an over-estimate (6 bedroom house in central SF) and can easily be reduced.

500k is pre-tax. The federal and state income taxes would be about $150k.

I think you're forgetting tax but I generally agree with your point.