Location, location, location.
“Location, location, location”
Health Insurance is fairly level across the country. I am a HI broker for individual and groups. The average family plan is $2400-2600 per month with a $5000 deductible.
Your friend getting by on $35 k per year with a family of 7? It’s economically impossible.
That is only $5km per person per year. House payment, house taxes, car and house insurance, car payment, health insurance, property taxes, gas and utilities, clothing, food, house and car maintence and gas, phones, entertainment, Birthdays, Christmas, school supplies. etc
Either your friend is telling you a wrong amount or they are on Medicaid and food stamps.
Average family income is 90k per year. Govt poverty level is $44k a year per family. Below that they are eligible for Medicaid and food stamps in any state in the country.
As for moving to more rural areas and having larger family. My niece was born and raised in NOVA/DC as with her husband.
Are they supposed to just uproot and move away from parents and families? Easier said than done.