A lot of what's spent in the US goes towards private rents. Money that goes towards rents is a waste. Most don't see it because it's everywhere. Either directly or indirectly. You pay more per sqft for an office, but you also pay more per hour for labor, because the guy you hires also pays rent[1]. Things cost more because the supply chain has to pay rents.

[1] Consider a lot of workers half their income goes to rent.