Divide yearly salary (before taxes) by median rent (40 = bare minimum to rent an apartment, 60 = comfortable, and 100 = luxurious living). Once you're making e

Divide yearly salary (before taxes) by median rent (40 = bare minimum to rent an apartment, 60 = comfortable, and 100 = luxurious living). Once you're making enough, it's about realizing the chances you'll be able to buy a house or find a compatible (and attractive) romantic partner are low. Before the rent situation got completely out of control, it was easy to recommend at least living in the Bay Area for a while (just to see if you like it or not, and to have experienced it), especially if just out of school, but now things are unclear. Many (of the better) tech companies have their headquarters in the Bay Area, and it's been commonly said that working out of any other office is a poor experience.