Well here in Australia the cost of living is disgusting. The housing market here is the worst, second to Canada. I can't afford a house within an hour of my work place, and fuel cost around $2 a litre. I've seen two bedroom houses that need heaps of renovations on 500m sq go for over 650k. I dont live in a city and rentals are insane, and we are heavily taxed.
I'm working full time but my wife can't ,and I never wanted her to have to work full time. I am struggling to get ahead. Unless you have both partners working you can't get ahead.