Are the standard of living attributed considered higher incomes of the workforce in the United States?

Scenario- “Ten years ago, Russell, a Wal-Mart employee, and his family lived in a one-room condominium. The family’s major sources of entertainment were the television and his CDs. Today, Gabriel, holding the same position and with a similar earning capacity as Russell ten years ago, lives in a duplex apartment with his family. Compared with Russell, Gabriel and his family shop more every month and spend money on electronic gadgets, such as mobile phones and Playstations. He and his family members watch movies on a home-theater system that they recently purchased.”