If I wanted to go for a studio or 1br, I think I'd be able to get a good one for $2500-$3000 in SF. Either way, it's only around 15% of a $300k salary after tax. There should be no CoL issues at all with a FAANG salary.
Yeah not denying that. Of course anyone single or without too many responsibilities can “survive” even on 100k. I’m not talking about that, because we get older and it doesn’t scale. my friend is a staff engineer who makes 240k plus stock.
He has a child on the way. His wife also works. Their rent is 7k a month (home in a good school district - important to us Asians) because they aren’t going to share an apartment and have means to live in a bigger space. They could rent a house for 4k and risk getting shot in Oakland, or live closer to work and have a decent home for their family.
He is always complaining about finances because he spends like 10k a month on just living. If he buys a home, it’s like 2 million at least for something decent in a good area.
I think Bay Area is mad expensive. You really need to make a lucky break to thrive here. Most people sell their vested stock immediately, so those guys who made millions etc are few and far in between because they held for a while.
I have cats so I need my own place and they need their own spaces :3
Getting rid of the car has been an awesome change though.
I’m so cheap now it’s crazy. Only spend money on food and cat stuff haha.