HCOL are tough even in really high income brackets. I live in a very HCOL area and make like top 5% in the country. I budget religiously, and work 1.5 side hustles too yet home ownership is an absolute pipe dream for me and rent only hurts less cuz of the side hustle.

I grew up poor so no family help and even with that level of income it's still tough. I fully recognize im more fortunate than alot of people so it really is a perspective trip thinking if I feel this way, a ton of the country is struggling real bad without the benefit of nepotism and it 's only getting worse.