Exactly this!! US has a very lone-wolf culture. In India, it is perfectly normal for an adult to live with parents and I am assuming SK is similar. The money aspect is overblown a lot.

While typing it, I realized it is actually more expensive in US than just a mouth to feed. Medical insurance, car insurance, car payments (you need a car), all add up to much more.

The US Health Insurance system is specifically used to keep working class people (and most middle class) at work. You can't really go without a job here.

Well Medicaid is free and for a car, you can get and old one for $2000 and pay <$50 a month for car insurance. Food costs more than that monthly, so it’s not a huge burden even for working class people.

If you are staying with your parents, I do not think Medicaid covers you. I do not see where you get < $50 for car insurance when you are under 26. Assuming a family like June Huh, they are much more likely to live in urban areas which does not fit into your cost model.

If under 26, you can get your parents’ work insurance, usually not a big increase, otherwise, you can just get crappy insurance for cheap. If urban area, you don’t need a car.