If houses cost 100-200K where I lived (NY area), a 75K income would be fine. My friend circle is getting decimated as friends are moving south :( My wife and I

If houses cost 100-200K where I lived (NY area), a 75K income would be fine. My friend circle is getting decimated as friends are moving south :( My wife and I have considered moving back to the Bay area (professional growth and general quality of life) but likely won't because of housing costs (I don't think buying a starter home for 600K in Sunnyvale is a responsible thing for us to do).