I assume you must live a VERY spartan life in the Bay. Basically pay your rent (which must be shared or very cheap for the Bay) and utilities and not do much else...
I mean the average Bay area rent is more than the difference between your take home and your savings...
edit: I'm using ADP's calculator, don't know why SmartAsset is different but ADP is pretty legit so I'm going to continue to lean towards those numbers.
https://smartasset.com/taxes/california-tax-calculator#RZ3V1...
Sharing an apartment isn't "spartan", it's "normal"
I was saving much less per month because as a couple we rented our own single bedroom apartment and my SO doesn't work. However, we still managed to save enough in 5 years (while still not having sold most of the vested equity) to buy a house in the Bay Area. So I agree that the pay is worth the hassle, so far at least.
I'm curious how much you spend for food monthly (including restaurants)? Somewhat surprisingly this is the highest cost for us, after rent/mortgage, and we do cook a lot at home (go out maybe twice a month).
It may be "the new normal" in the Bay Area and other hyperstressed markets.
But it's not a living standard most people aspire to.
From my perspective, as the sole income earner of a family of four, that's a pretty shocking statement.
I feel like I've built a very comfortable life for myself and my family, and I make quite a bit less than that.