Here's Why Workers on Reddit Say a 6-Figure Income Doesn't Guarantee You'll Feel Financially OK
Whether you’re just starting your career or climbing the next rung on the corporate ladder, you likely have certain milestones of success in mind. A six-figure salary is probably toward the top of your list — and for good reason. After all, a higher income can make certain material aspects of your life easier.
But for many workers today, earning $100,000 doesn’t automatically translate to financial comfort. Between the impact of inflation and the rising cost of living in many major cities, workers are finding that six figures don’t stretch the way they once did.
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Many have taken to forums like Reddit to commiserate — and to question why hitting that long-held milestone no longer feels like “making it.”
In Certain Cities, the Cost of Living Makes a Six-Figure Salary More of a Baseline
For Redditors in certain cities and regions of the country, a six-figure salary isn’t a benchmark of true financial security so much as the minimum required to keep pace with local living costs.
“I live in the Bay Area … I literally dig through the trash for my job and rarely make less than $100 an hour,” one member wrote.
Lest others feel too impressed by those wages, the same user noted their mortgage payment was $5,000.
This perspective aligns with data from Apartment List, which found that housing costs in San Francisco are about 145.5% higher than the national average. Similarly, SmartAsset ranked the purchasing power of $100,000 across major U.S. cities and found that in Manhattan, New York City, it equates to just $30,362 in real purchasing power once taxes and local costs are factored in.
Inflation Has Quietly Eroded Purchasing Power
Many Redditors also lament the ways inflation has limited their ability to stretch their income. One user in the r/povertyfinance subreddit summed it up plainly:
“Six figures is not poor by any stretch. But compared with 20 years ago, it’s no longer the ‘I’ve made it!’ number it used to be.”
Writing for Climate Cosmos, Kathleen Westbrook explained that raises and higher salaries no longer carry the same weight they once did, as major household costs continue climbing, effectively “eroding the real value of income gains.”
Westbrook identified several areas where inflation has taken the biggest toll on purchasing power:
Housing
Groceries
Energy
Healthcare
She concluded with the sobering observation that even when wages rise, workers may not feel a greater sense of security — instead, they may still feel focused on simply getting by.
Your Savings Priorities Change With Age
Even beyond inflation and geography, Reddit users point to another reason a six-figure income doesn’t always feel luxurious: Life simply gets more expensive over time.
To paraphrase The Notorious B.I.G., “more money, more problems” — especially as financial goals widen with age, from retirement to major home expenses.
As one Redditor put it, by the time you reach a six-figure salary, you’re often older and further along in your career, which means you're almost certainly facing bigger-ticket responsibilities.
“I’m in my forties, make $100,000 and now have to catch up on my retirement savings, plus set aside an HSA for $10,000 in dental work next year and $12,000 for a new roof soon,” the user said.
They added that people with children often face even more expenses competing for their income.
Still, the Redditor acknowledged they’re far from struggling. “I can get the expensive cheese if I want it,” they wrote — but clarified that “I’m also not living some high life of international travel and cashmere sweaters.”
The Bottom Line
For many people, including those sharing their experiences on Reddit, a six-figure salary no longer guarantees financial ease. Location, inflation and shifting life priorities all play a role in why $100,000 doesn’t stretch as far as it once did.
Even so, many still emphasize that earning six figures offers real advantages and flexibility. It may not buy instant comfort everywhere, but it can still make daily life easier — and it remains a worthwhile financial goal.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice.
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