How do you survive in Florida ?

Im an expat from Asia and have been living in West Palm for the last 1 and a half year, am earning $105K annually, and my company wanted to relocate me to Haupauge in Long Island later this year with the same amount, and I rejected the relocation and instead will be returning back to my country in May. Even in Florida without state tax, Im finding life difficult, am literally paying about $2.1K in taxes every month here and another $2.2K for apartment rental, here’s a summary of my life in West Palm for the past year. Can’t imagine how Im gonna live in Long Island with that kind of wages

First 6 months

Mon - Fri

Breakfast: skip to save money

Lunch: $8.95 from ideal nutrition

Dinner: $8.95 from ideal nutrition

Ideal nutrition is literally the cheapest prep meal box I can find in Florida, others are all $10 and above.

Sat-Sun

Lunch: $30-$60

Dinner: $30-$60

Only on weekends i pamper myself for a decent meal

Grocery cost: $100 - $150 per month

Transport cost: $500 - $600 per month

Next 6 months:

Mon - Fri

Breakfast: $1 - $4 sometimes i eat cereal or Belgian waffles from whole foods that has 450 calories per serving and only cost $1.95 each

Lunch: Alternating between $8.95 ideal nutrition or $10.95 Factor75

Dinner: Alternating between $8.95 ideal nutrition or $10.95 Factor75

Sat-Sun

Breakfast: $1 - $4

Lunch: $30 - $60

Dinner: $30 - $60

Grocery and transport cost about the same.

I felt that Im living like a dog, don’t get me wrong, I love the US but at the same time the cost of living is just one word “absurd”. Even my American colleagues they bring their own lunch to work rather than eating out and I ask them why, they cite cost as well. For the same amount I earn back in my country, I would only have to pay $6000+ in taxes per year and 20% of my monthly salary into my pension fund which I can use to buy an apartment or withdraw it when I hit 65 years.

There has also been an increased sighting of homeless people around the county I noticed, I really hope the US government could do something to lower the burdens of their people, for me I’m not too much affected since I’m leaving the US in May but I feel for the people who are stuck and living here, especially people who earn below $100K, I can’t imagine how you live.

Sorry for the rant, but I’m really curious and want to hear from you locals on how you really get by with whatever amount you earn.