A 200k salary is what... 13k net? You're telling me that income is just surviving in the Bay Area?
Studios all within 1 hour of SF by BART cost at most 2,500 but usually around 2000, cheaper if you're in Oakland/Daly city. 2000*12 is 24000, so if you're take home salary is at least 73,000 you're making a healthy multiple over rent. Just making 120k in the Bay area you're taking home 84,000 per year.
So if you're making 200k you're taking home $10,700 per month, so you can afford a 3,500 rent at most, which could easily get you a nice 2 bedroom within 30 minutes of downtown SF.
30% of income to go right back to rent in the Bay Area for the privilege of living in a studio is…
For most people, including me, not worth it.
“Oh but this is nationally average numbers” yes and no.
Plus your numbers are gross not net.
$73,000 to live in a studio, let’s be generous and say under 300sq ft, commute over an hour daily..
For what? The privilege to work in Bay Area?
> The privilege to work in the Bay Area?
In the bay area you have mild climate all year, high quality public transport, culture, food. I do agree that rents are too high given a lack of development, but for many people that is worth it. The bay area is one of the few places in the world that pays fresh college graduates 120k+, so naturally there will be high rents, and to be in that environment is a privilege especially in growing a network.