All those things are not entirely true or in any event somewhat stereotyped. Education doesn't have to be more expensive (community college, living at home or w roommates, going to secondary schools) but it is more expensive if you live in luxury student housing and you go to an overpriced school with a BS degree that doesn't translate into a cost appropriate salary.
Homes are ONLY more expensive in gateway markets (SF, NYC, Boston, etc) but this applies to everyone that lives in these areas regardless of age - go to other markets (even just going to the suburbs of the aforementioned markets makes a huge difference) and homes are actually a bargain but the jobs may be less robust.
Healthcare applies to everyone, at least the millennials could stay on parents insurance until 26 so that helped.
I think the bigger issue is that millenials should be subcatoregized into urban vs. suburban/rural as I think most of the spendy stereotype issues that come up seem to be related more to urban dwelling residents. I know plenty of millennials, even of the younger range, that own houses and cars, have started families, and seem to be financial prudent but they all are in the suburbs - Those in the city not so much.
As usual, it comes down to choices more than anything else.
You're right! College can be so cheap if you do all those things that Boomers never had to do to afford college! ... ... Also, the fact that you can't pay for a year's worth of college based on a summer's worth of work (barring outliers, naturally, because they're outliers and not the average) means that the cost of college tuition has gone up far faster than the price of a person's labor. So, you're wrong.
Also, I know plenty of young Xers and early Millennials who are thrifty homeowners in an expensive city. What's your point, other than "I know what I'm talking about, without needing pesky data"? Plus, in my expensive city the suburbs are actually even more expensive than the city prices, and that's on top of ridiculous commutes. You either rent, fight it out with a million other people for the affordable houses, or live an hour+ away from work. Those are fantastic choices. And why do people continue to live here? Well, perhaps because this is where the jobs they want to work in are. You know, those fantastic tech jobs we're all told we have to get to survive.
You make a lot of assumptions and gloss over a lot of reality.
Aren't you're doing some of the same stuff? Just like you said - it's hard to afford houses close to the places people
want to work, but the truth is you don't have to work in a large corporation in a big city. I, personally, would not be in the location I am in were it not for my job. I like where I am, I wouldn't live in Siberia just to make an extra $15 grand or something, but there are definitely places around the country I'd enjoy more. And should we retire early we'll consider moving away.
The fact that Boomers didn't have to go to CC doesn't mean anything. Education costs are
way out of control, you're absolutely right. The continued rise is ridiculous and, really, unsustainable. But still, with a large number of majors college is still a great investment, and it's certainly not the only option in the first place.
I'm not trying to start a huge back and forth, I just think you both can be right here. Certain costs can suck, it can be annoying to hear boomers say "Back in my day!" over and over again and yet it can still largely come down to personal choices.
The world is still pretty great for the majority of us lucky enough to be born in 1st world countries. Our actual needs are met with a ridiculously low amount of money relative to most any time in human history. You'd never think that after 15 minutes of perusing in internet, and that goes for all generations.