I did a quick and dirty calculation because I thought it was a bit off...
All of our monthly expenses go on a C.C. except utilities, mortgage, and insurance, so its easy to pull the numbers off the top of my head.
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI MSA (WI)
Two Parents, Two Children
Item Cost
Monthly Housing $828 (~$1000)
Monthly Food $754
Monthly Child Care $1526
Monthly Transportation $607
Monthly Health Care $1496
Monthly Other Necessities $405
Monthly Taxes $495 (About right for property taxes alone)
Monthly Total $6111
Annual Total $73329
My estimates are around $76,000, excluding expenses for private schooling.
Monthly health care was listed much higher than we spend, but we spend quite a bit more on transportation when insurance, maintenance and fuel is all considered.