We (a family of 6) seemed to spend about 50% more on "general life" in the Bay Area than we do in Chicago. * Eating out was a lot more expensive, kids' meals e

We (a family of 6) seemed to spend about 50% more on "general life" in the Bay Area than we do in Chicago. * Eating out was a lot more expensive, kids' meals especially are more expensive than other places. * More on gas because we had to flippin' drive everywhere. Anywhere with reasonable public transit or walkability had vastly higher housing prices. * State income tax is high * I don't know why, but we got a crap ton of ticky tacky traffic tickets. * Property taxes are relatively high if you're in a house that was recently purchased. Yes housing is the bulk of it, but I was really astonished how much money we spent.