$90k isn't a terrible wage by any stretch, but it's not as brilliant as some in here are alluding to. If I was bringing home $90k, I sure would be pleased. But it's not an elite salary.It’s only 45% above $180,000. Everything below that is taxed on progressively lower rates, including the tax free amount at the start. No one is losing close to 50% of their total income, it’s close to 30% overall.
An annual salary of $90,000 isn’t Scrooge McDuck rich but you sure as hell should be doing ok. If you have a second income, then you should be very ok. People are like goldfish, they grow their spending to match their income so they always feel like they are not quite there yet. But at $100,000 or more combined, you’re more likely to be in a nice house, have nice things, but your kids nice things etc. I know my wife and I are fortunate and I don’t actually begrudge tax so that society overall can have nice things.
And yeah, $100k combined or more and having a nice house in Melbourne is way off. Though, that is probably a very subjective term.