[Dilbert San Diego]

The $177,000 is supposed to be the baseline in the relatively inexpensive state of Mississippi. Yes, we don’t know what living comfortably is supposed to mean in this context.

[Antoninus]

The $177,000 is supposed to be the baseline in the relatively inexpensive state of Mississippi. Yes, we don’t know what living comfortably is supposed to mean in this context.

Apparently, "living comfortably" means living in a mortgaged $700K McMansion, having two leased Lexuses, taking three $10K vacations each year, season tix for two local sports teams, having several premium entertainment packages with hefty monthly payments, eating out five nights per week, and paying full tuition to college for two kids each year.

If you don't do any of the above, you can live on $60K in most places.