Where in the US would $140k become $70k after tax? Or do you mean after all other pre-tax adjustments such as insurance, 401ks, in addition to taxes?

Don't forget real estate tax and sales tax. In some places, real estate tax is about 20-30% of the rental cost. Sales tax is as high as 10% in some places.

According to a friend I know who lives in the tri-state area that is what happens to them, but they max out 401K, have insurance etc.

But that's not $140->$70 after tax, that's $140k->$70k after tossing $24k into retirement investment savings, another $5k into healthcare savings, possibly another $1,500 towards healthcare premiums (huge amount of variability there), and then finally taxes.

"lives in the tri-state area"

Do you know how many of those are in the US?

Well there's 50 states so 504948 is just 117,600.

I bet it's just outside of Springfield.

Which Springfield? :-)

> but they max out 401K

So then it’s not what happens to them is it?