>While I don't argue your points here, I do want to point out that the "cost of living" is a defined measure that I doubt includes things like eating out REGULARLY.

True, but in the articles I was referring to, I don't think (or at least, he didn't make it sound like) the "cost of living" was an official measurement, just an observation on behalf of an author who probably leads an expensive life, similar to what Mark was talking about.