This is also true in the United States. Where monthly salary can be around $9,000 USD but income tax (government mandate) takes out about 1/3 of this along with medical, dental insurance and 401K for your retirement (optional). Also, the cost of living in Tokyo, Japan, is comparable to east coast US, which is much higher than Bangkok, Thailand. (A bowl of boat noodle soup in Bangkok, $1...a bowl of boat noodle soup in D.C. area, $12). Finally, equivalent to Japan, depending on where we live in the US, we are required to pay property tax for our house and vehicles (the cost of owning them) on the annual basis as well.