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I’ll ding you on the financial sense of not living in Bay Area vs living there even if you’re just a new grad (or just below L8). I live in a very low cost of living area with salary nearly twice the median software engineer and I’d still be able to save 40% more on a google paycheck even adjusting for the rent 5 times my current for the same amenities.

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We don't even need to be that frugal! 100% of the net increase to VHCOL compensation can go into VHCOL housing expense increases with plenty of room to spare.

If we would pay 33% of your income in LCOL housing, and move to someplace that pays us (net) 100% more, we can afford 4x(!) the rent we did previously.

We're bidding against everyone else who wants what we want, so it's no wonder housing is insane in the Bay Area, since household incomes are so much higher.

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