I disagree with the other comment; the COL calculators must NOT be taken as face value. Just like you pointed out the rent and state taxes are perhaps the bigge

I disagree with the other comment; the COL calculators must NOT be taken as face value. Just like you pointed out the rent and state taxes are perhaps the biggest increase in expense. Groceries are more expensive but NOT by 150%; especially if you shopped at higher end Grocery stores (like Whole Foods v/s Walmart). Other major things, like furniture, appliances, electronics are more or less the same (except there is a CA recycling fee for electronics, but it isn't that much). The financial upside is so much that its just ridiculous. The comp ceiling does not exist in SFBA or is substantially higher than anywhere else in the US. From a purely financial success, you should absolutely seriously consider moving to SFBA.