counter anecdote - I moved from Atlanta, GA earning $70k/yr ($4k/mo after taxes) to SF earning ($6.5k/mo after taxes). In Atl, I saved $2k/mo. In SF, I saved

counter anecdote - I moved from Atlanta, GA earning $70k/yr ($4k/mo after taxes) to SF earning ($6.5k/mo after taxes). In Atl, I saved $2k/mo. In SF, I saved $3k/mo. Its hard to save $3k/mo if you're only making $4k/mo. In SF, I took a huge lifestyle hit. No car, no apartment to myself, eating out less. which let me save a lot more.