The Middle Class Meter

Family of Four

There are many ways to measure middle class values, and money is merely one of them. A billionaire who came from humble beginnings, and who has not adopted elaborate tastes or desires, can very well consider themselves middle class.

Conversely, a person who has no money, but came from a middle class home remains middle class. They simply have middle class values and no money. People born into poverty who aspire to be middle class and who believe in hard work for a decent reward have a middle class mentality.

We are however for simplicity using a monetary example here. Since the cost of living varies greatly based on Geography, simply add to these figures if you reside in New York City or Los Angeles, and subtract an appropriate amount if you live in a very rural area.