Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

I don't know your family situation but a couple with one child and 5000 euro household income: 23% in this constellation are richer, 77% poorer.

And with two children it's 36% vs 64%.

And with DINKS 13% vs. 83%

I know these numbers, but I just can't reconcile them with my living environment. Very good friends of ours both have a secondary school diploma. He trained as a retail salesman and works as a Key Account Manager in Munich earning 80,000€ gross. She is a window dresser in Munich and earns 50,000€ gross. When I put both into a gross-to-net calculator I get 6300€ out.

There is virtually no one in our environment who has a household income under 5000€. Either people really live in such bubbles or it is simply different in Munich.

Either you really live in such bubbles or it's simply different in Munich.

Both. In certain areas, employers just have to pay more; otherwise, they can't find staff. And window dressing is hard to outsource abroad, just like waiters, hairdressers, etc. You don't just have bubbles with income; look at how many friends have a comparable school qualification.

If you break 40 in the east of the republic per year, you are already a good earner. From 48 onwards, you are definitely upper class (wirtschaftsingenieur).

Birds of a feather flock together. Therefore, I do think it is also a bubble phenomenon. I come from a welfare family, back then we didn't know any homeowners (at most squatters.... :p) and high earners except for my aunt's family. Then my current husband and I worked for many years in the low-wage sector. Fortunately, the clientele was often well-to-do, so you did get to see what is possible. And now we have a household net income of €4200 and I consider that by no means little in our area. Our circle of friends and acquaintances usually lies a bit below that, but not by much.

If you break 40 in the east of the country per year, you are already a good earner From 48 you are definitely upper class (industrial engineer)

I don't think so. Here with us; near Potsdam; nursing specialists earn easily between €42,000 - €60,000 gross per year. It depends on professional experience.

He trained as a retail salesman and works as a Key Account Manager in Munich, earning €80,000 gross. She is a window dresser in Munich and earns €50,000 gross. When I enter both into a gross-net calculator, I get €6,300.

Here in our environment, there is hardly anyone with a household income under €5,000. Either you really live in such bubbles or it is just different in Munich.

The average income per person in Munich was already about €67,500 in 2020. Currently, it is certainly even higher. Your friends are therefore around the average for Munich. Regional differences are simply real.

In addition, it is often the case that through work, studies, etc., one surrounds oneself with people who are usually also in a similar salary bracket.