You honestly don't even have to keep your costs way down. If you just live with roommates and don't actively try and spend a ton of money you'll be able to sav

You honestly don't even have to keep your costs way down. If you just live with roommates and don't actively try and spend a ton of money you'll be able to save enough in seven to ten years to probably buy a house somewhere else (or at least cover 60% of it). The trick is that reestablishing an entire friend network and getting comfortable in an area takes time. The first year or two in a place is usually more difficult and I suspect this gets even harder as you get older and people are paired off. If you live in the bay area in your 20s with roommates and then pick up and move to Austin or Boulder at 30 it's probably hard to make friends (though I'd guess dating is probably a lot easier).