While you’re completely correct, the cost of living in America is also much higher than than the world median.
What we really should be looking at is the ratio of pay : cost of living but raw salary is just easier for the masses to see and be mad about.
As an example, 3.5k USD is about my monthly bills.
I mean everyone added together, mortgage, car payment, various insurance premiums, utilities, groceries, etc
My mortgage is $1200 of that, though.