4 ms·

I think many people would still rather make $55k in SF than $91k in detroit, even if these numbers weren't completely bogus

xienze 8y ago
> I think many people would still rather make $55k in SF than $91k in detroit And where exactly are you going to live for $55K in the Bay Area? At least in Detroit you don't have to commute that far to live somewhere that's quite nice, and even own a house.
reificator 8y ago
You're joking right? A quick googling shows the median price of a home in Detroit as $35k. I don't care how bad you are at budgeting, with $91k/y in Detroit you could buy two homes. I don't have to google San Francisco to tell you that you'd be lucky to afford to rent with three roommates on $55k in San Francisco. I get where you're coming from in terms of crime and such, but cost of living is a major part of choosing where to live and on that front there's no question.
- rcatcher 8y ago
  You probably wouldn't want to live in a neighborhood where a house costs $35k. I used to live in Philadelphia, the median house price was around $100k, but it was skewed by neighborhoods with high crime rates.
  - reificator 8y ago
    I've lived in much worse growing up, I assure you. The point is that the bay area housing market is on one extreme and Detroit's is on the other.
    - thereare5lights 8y ago
      Would you raise kids in that same environment if given the option?
      - reificator 8y ago
        Between SF and Detroit? I'm not joking when I say that's a difficult choice. Based on your question I think we have different core beliefs about what's important in raising a child.
    - s73v3r_ 8y ago
      "I've lived in much worse growing up, I assure you." Good for you. That doesn't answer the question of why you would choose to do that now when you don't have to.
      - reificator 8y ago
        > Good for you. Is that particularly helpful here in this discussion? > That doesn't answer the question of why you would choose to do that now when you don't have to. Nor does it answer the question of why that dichotomy is being presented as the only option. I presented what I found to be the median home price, a price unimaginable to the average SF resident. It's a comparison point to highlight the vast gulf between the two markets. It's not a declaration of intent to drop what I'm doing and move to a $35k home in Detroit without critical analysis.
        s73v3r_ 8y ago
        "Is that particularly helpful here in this discussion?" It's as helpful as you saying that you've lived in worse conditions in the past.
  - jowiar 8y ago
    8 years ago a friend of mine bought a perfectly serviceable house in a nice, safe, convenient neighborhood in Pittsburgh for about 90k. Generally, here’s what I’ve seen gets you equivalent size/convenience/safety: 1m in NY 500k in DC 300k in Philly 150k in Pittsburgh. I would absolutely believe you could find something nice for 5 figures in Detroit.
- rb808 8y ago
  Well these are real (adjusted) salaries, and most tech people do choose SF over Detroit so I think you're wrong.
  - reificator 8y ago
    I was responding to the post as written, which did not mention adjustments. Most tech people do not choose SF at $55k. That's all I'm saying.
- acchow 8y ago
  Money can't change the winters in Detroit
frockington 8y ago
I don't know, when you factor in homeless population and traffic Detroit may have the edge. I would prefer living at least 150 miles from both though
magissima 8y ago
They're not bogus, they're adjusted for cost of living.
asdsa5325 8y ago
They are adjusted for cost of living, and you should speak for yourself.

xienze 8y ago

> I think many people would still rather make $55k in SF than $91k in detroit And where exactly are you going to live for $55K in the Bay Area? At least in Detroit you don't have to commute that far to live somewhere that's quite nice, and even own a house.

reificator 8y ago

You're joking right? A quick googling shows the median price of a home in Detroit as $35k. I don't care how bad you are at budgeting, with $91k/y in Detroit you could buy two homes. I don't have to google San Francisco to tell you that you'd be lucky to afford to rent with three roommates on $55k in San Francisco. I get where you're coming from in terms of crime and such, but cost of living is a major part of choosing where to live and on that front there's no question.

rcatcher 8y ago
You probably wouldn't want to live in a neighborhood where a house costs $35k. I used to live in Philadelphia, the median house price was around $100k, but it was skewed by neighborhoods with high crime rates.
- reificator 8y ago
  I've lived in much worse growing up, I assure you. The point is that the bay area housing market is on one extreme and Detroit's is on the other.
  - thereare5lights 8y ago
    Would you raise kids in that same environment if given the option?
    - reificator 8y ago
      Between SF and Detroit? I'm not joking when I say that's a difficult choice. Based on your question I think we have different core beliefs about what's important in raising a child.
  - s73v3r_ 8y ago
    "I've lived in much worse growing up, I assure you." Good for you. That doesn't answer the question of why you would choose to do that now when you don't have to.
    - reificator 8y ago
      > Good for you. Is that particularly helpful here in this discussion? > That doesn't answer the question of why you would choose to do that now when you don't have to. Nor does it answer the question of why that dichotomy is being presented as the only option. I presented what I found to be the median home price, a price unimaginable to the average SF resident. It's a comparison point to highlight the vast gulf between the two markets. It's not a declaration of intent to drop what I'm doing and move to a $35k home in Detroit without critical analysis.
      - s73v3r_ 8y ago
        "Is that particularly helpful here in this discussion?" It's as helpful as you saying that you've lived in worse conditions in the past.
- jowiar 8y ago
  8 years ago a friend of mine bought a perfectly serviceable house in a nice, safe, convenient neighborhood in Pittsburgh for about 90k. Generally, here’s what I’ve seen gets you equivalent size/convenience/safety: 1m in NY 500k in DC 300k in Philly 150k in Pittsburgh. I would absolutely believe you could find something nice for 5 figures in Detroit.
rb808 8y ago
Well these are real (adjusted) salaries, and most tech people do choose SF over Detroit so I think you're wrong.
- reificator 8y ago
  I was responding to the post as written, which did not mention adjustments. Most tech people do not choose SF at $55k. That's all I'm saying.
acchow 8y ago
Money can't change the winters in Detroit

frockington 8y ago

I don't know, when you factor in homeless population and traffic Detroit may have the edge. I would prefer living at least 150 miles from both though

magissima 8y ago

They're not bogus, they're adjusted for cost of living.

asdsa5325 8y ago

They are adjusted for cost of living, and you should speak for yourself.