Excuse me, but at $200k you're making $100k net so about $8k per month. With rent at $2.3k, you should be able to save enough to buy something at some point, no? Or at least you could rent something more expensive, closer to work?
Without knowing regional pricing information it's hard to say they "should be able to save enough to buy something at some point".
If he is only paying 2300 rent he is living in a small apt even 60 minutes out. The cost of everything in the bay makes you wonder where money goes.
Lunch is a minimum of 25 bucks, bottle of cheap beer 10.