[update]

> you would need to get, like, 10 $5,000 bounties a year to survive in the US wouldn't you?

More like 2 $5k bounties a year for me. Where I live in the U.S., I could rent a house for $500/mo ($6,000 a year), and I eat about $200 of food per month ($2,400 a year). So the cost of living per year is $8,400.

But yes, it entirely depends on where you live. For me, I specifically chose this place so that I could live comfortably on bug bounty income

[michaelmrose]

Assuming you don't need to pay for health insurance and can handle financial ruin if you break your leg.

Assuming you don't need to pay for electricity, water, trash service, internet, phone service, medicine, toilet paper, detergent, need to leave your house ever, buy a computer to actually work with.

[stevehawk]

I mean, i had lady brag to me that she was in a super nice apartment for $375/mo in my area. That leaves a lot of room for toilet paper and detergent.

[michaelmrose]

So you a pseudonymous stranger have heard from an anon stranger that somewhere there is an apartment for rent with undefined qualities and location that is "super nice" for near 1/3 the median rent. A rate that wont rent a yurt in most places.

[update]

you're right, i didn't include that stuff. I was trying to price it out for someone who is renting a house/apt, but neglected the utilities bit. I actually bought a house here for $20k (in cash from bug bounties) so all I pay for is utilities. This place has an acre of forest and FIOS internet, 3 br and next to the lake. I pay about $300 a month for the services you mentioned, save health care, which I don't pay for at all at the moment.