I'm plenty familiar with Boston commutes and that they can be pretty crappy, my point is mostly that things seem an order of magnitude better than in the Bay. C

I'm plenty familiar with Boston commutes and that they can be pretty crappy, my point is mostly that things seem an order of magnitude better than in the Bay. Commutes are still bad and rents are still expensive, but my point was that examining the problems around SF makes me grateful that things aren't as bad here. On the note of a "nice/managed building", you're right that I live in a smaller setup. Having previously lived in one of the luxury high-rises, I find my current apartment and management preferable even before considering the differences in rent.