Depends where in the US of course. $200K isn't going to go very far if you have to pay $1M for a house, 20K for r/e taxes, etc... One or two kids in college and you are f'd.

I don't know exact salary figure, but my sisters family in UK have medium income (1.5 jobs) new BMW, two kids in college, foreign vacations every year, kids got latest Apple phones/watch/laptop growing up ... A bit like 1950's America living the dream on a single income with foreign holidays and iPhones added.

When did they buy their house (or flat)?

House bought a while back before prices shot up, so maybe mortgage paid off ... I don't know. OTOH college costs alone make the US ruinously expensive.. $200K/kid perhaps... That's the point really - you need to look at full financial picture in the US - especially costs. Looking at income tells you nothing.

My alma mater is coming in around $16,000 a year or so for tuition, books, and fees - https://www.calpoly.edu/undergraduate-costs-attendance-2024-... . It's generally considered a not-terrible school. $200k is quite rare.

if you live in a major city in Europe you are going to also be paying $1M for a decent family sized house.

I'd also take $200k in the US over £40k in the UK, but let's not overdo things: Here in London I have bug screens, air con, and basically any food you could think of (and quite a lot I've never heard of).

It's seriously not difficult.

> And food I can taste.

Where do you live?