There’s no paradox. Rent is a necessity, given that you want to live in and get your career going in SF. Restaurants are a luxury. Thus there are those who will

There’s no paradox. Rent is a necessity, given that you want to live in and get your career going in SF. Restaurants are a luxury. Thus there are those who will spend as much as possible on rent (esp. if they think it will help them earn more later), taking it out of their going-out budget.