I realize this guy is not trying to FIRE, but is it really so easy to do *all* those things on a low six-figure income in Phoenix? I'm thinking of my parents, who live in an area that I imagine is similar COL to Phoenix and who also raised a family on one income that (accounting for inflation) was probably similar to what the author is making. We were quite comfortable, but a $40,000 car was definitely not in the cards, ever, and my dad definitely did not pursue expensive hobbies like driving fast cars around racetracks (he did it vicariously with a couple of car magazine subscriptions instead). I'd be interested to hear a follow-up from the author in a few years as to whether or not he really feels financially secure in Phoenix. My suspicion is that his lifestyle will just inflate to suit the new conditions and in a couple of years he'll be struggling in Phoenix too and complaining that the middle class are so squeezed these days because it's difficult for him to maintain his desired lifestyle. Kind of curious if he is putting anything away for his own retirement or his kids college or just a plain old rainy day.
I haven't lived in phoenix, only visited here and there.
Here's a mix of my experience and some math. Let's assume a six-figure-and-nothing salary of $100k, two parents, two kids. Let's say the goal is to own a decent house, a $40k car and a $10k car, and have cash left over.
Income: $100,000Expense: Tax: 21529 (let's round: $21,500) - we'll talk about tax advantaged saving later, and various other deductions/credits improve this
Expense: Mortgage, etc: approx $1,250/month or $15,000 per year - I looked up 3 bedroom houses on zillow and clicked on the second result for a $269k house. Mortgage estimated $950/mo by zillow, plus extras.
Expense: Home maintenance: let's say $5k/yr. - Whatever. I don't know.
Well, those are the big ones out of the way. How about payments on and maintenance for two cars?
Expense: Car ownership - $50k total, financed 5 years at 3.11%, google estimates $901/month (round: $11k/yr).Expense: Car maintenance and repairs - let's say $5k/yr. - assuming no warranties; phoenix is nice to car bodies, not so nice to paint and interior, but suspension won't rust...
Where are we? $100k in, $21500 on taxes ($78.5k left). $58.5k after home. $42.5k after cars.
Okay, now let's talk necessities, food, etc. What the hell do kids cost? I don't know. Let's say your two kids eat, wear, and gently destroy $1000/month each. Ouch, $24k! Plus you have to eat, let's pretend you know how to cook normal food, and you spend a further $5k on yourself. A couple thousand more for clothes and shoes? Let's say $3k there. Necessities. $10.5k left.
And you have to drive... let's say you do 20k miles combined at $3/gal at 20 combined mpg, that's $3k. $7.5k left.
With $7.5k left, you can reasonable shop for stuff that you occasionally need, buy some toys, eat out, go on vacation, buy some birthday gifts, and so on. Oh, and you need to power your air conditioning. You do indeed get everything you want, just barely, except a savings account. Perhaps you can complain online how the middle class is being stomped on and unable to save.
Realistically, a family should be able to reduce child expenses quite a bit when they're in school; kids eat a lot but they don't eat and wear out a thousand bucks each. You can drive a bit less (and gas is cheaper.) You can eat out a bit less. You can use the 401k to save some money tax-deferred. You can buy a slightly cheaper house. And your taxes are actually going to be considerably less than what I quoted above. Plus, if you found a house that was more like $175k instead (still not that hard - just don't click the second result that pops up), you'd be paying several thousand less in mortgage.
But overall, yes, Phoenix is cheap, but it's not quite cheap enough to have everything you want on $100k for three dependents and still save money etc. Totally doable, but you have to set priorities, and not just get everything.
Sources
https://smartasset.com/taxes/arizona-tax-calculator#kE4DiEGMl7http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/761-N-Comanche-Dr-Chandler-AZ-85224/8185735_zpid/http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/17438-N-13th-Ave-Phoenix-AZ-85023/7963347_zpid/