Off-topic: Reminds me of "Half a mil in twenties like a billion where I'm from."
On-topic: that's misleading; once you pay fixed costs, you have a lot more latitude for discretionary income. Not everything is the same ratio more expensive in the Bay Area.
What happens when you have a family? A MacBook Pro costs the same but does childcare? How about a home with a reasonable commute, good schools, and is large enough for a single family?
On-topic: that's misleading; once you pay fixed costs, you have a lot more latitude for discretionary income. Not everything is the same ratio more expensive in the Bay Area.