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We had a dev working for the summer who got a job at an SF startup this past week. He's making $2k a week, but his rent for his apartment costs $3k and he's got
by aaron-lebo 9y ago
We had a dev working for the summer who got a job at an SF startup this past week. He's making $2k a week, but his rent for his apartment costs $3k and he's got roommates. As someone who has lived off of $40k and rented a $1.4k a month loft that was absolutely palatial, in the middle of the city with great views, this sounds like insanity. My coworker who is from the Boston area was similarly aghast at the differences in cost of living.
Have fun at your nice job, but I'm not coming home to roommates for $3k a month. The numbers don't really seem to work out, a lot of people are basically selling great living conditions for the chance to go work at companies that probably won't be there in a few years and really aren't doing anything interesting.
Also the "monoculture" dig applies to tech specifically: in terms of actual cultural diversity very few places are as interesting.
I feel like people who say this about any city haven't gotten out much in other cities.
- dyim 9y agoFYI, you don't need to pay $3k - I lived in the Mission / Potrero Hill area (with roommates, mind you) for a few years, and my rent had always been between $1000-1850/mo. Centrally located, safe(-ish), and beautiful. You can run through Bernal Heights Park, get ice cream at Humphrey Slocombe, and bike to the 24 Hour Fitness on 16th and Potrero. If you're in tech, you can definitely live well in SF :)
- kbenson 9y agoOr commute a little. If you're paying multiples the cost to live 30 minutes away and commute, that's because you've attributed a high value on that locality, so complaining that it's too expensive doesn't make much sense.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- dyim 9y agoyes - when people complain about their own revealed preferences, just smile and nod!
- realbarack 9y agoYeah, living with roommates for 3k a month is a choice. I know people (myself included) who live with roommates, in nice places in desirable neighborhoods in SF, for 1/3 to 1/2 that.
- roguecoder 9y agoMy rent in Boston was $600 a month with roommates in an amazing renovated 2,600 sq ft apartment. A cheap vegetarian lunch was $5 instead of $10. My groceries were cheaper, there weren't homeless folks everywhere and salaries are about the same. In Boston I was rich; here, I watch what I spend and clean my own house. Too bad the jobs there were brutally boring. The inability of this area to build sufficient housing has a significant, material impact on our quality of life.
- gvd 9y agoMost comments here don't even mention kids. Childcare is very expensive on top of your rent/mortgage. It's highly likely that by the time you are 35-40 you will be paying for rent/mortgage AND childcare.
- sidlls 9y agoYes, it is very expensive (2 kids here). It's not appreciably more expensive than a Midwest town unless you really want that super premium private school.
- gvd 9y agoSchools in the Bay Area can become pretty poor once you are in a more affordable area. If you want a decent school the rent/mortgage will reflect that.
- rak00n 9y agoYou can get plenty of nice apartments in $3k range. I don't understand why he has to have roommates if that's not a personal preference.