When govt 8k is a cut off point, it means 8k is a beanchmark. i dun buy that.
I believe a benchmark is set by the individual. My benchmark is to earn a level that you can middle finger the govt and move to stay in the country of your choice.
Sorry, when your salary is above a certain level, you no longer want to move out (unless it is to a place like Hong Kong) because you will realise that the government does let you keep most of your money.
E.g. if you earn $120k (post releifs) a year, you pay only $9,900 in income tax. Even if you spend 100% of the remainder money on GSTable items, it is only a further 7,200 in GST. Even if you pay another $10k in ARF/PARF/COE/Road Tax/Petrol Tax (and that is a BIG overestimattion), that still leaves you with nearly $95k left.
The percentages get better as your salary goes higher.
Many Europeans will tell you that if you make at least $80k, you will not want to be living in their welfare policied countries. At that point in time, it is to the robin hood governemnts that you will want to show the middle finger to.