Many people talking about living in poverty in this forum. Even having a "decent" job. (San Francisco: neighborhoods, preschool)

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by tikkasf

Keep in mind that their are probably a fair number of residents of SF that have been long term tenants of a rent controlled apartment. So, somebody making $45K - $50k can get by pretty good in SF if they are in that situation......downside is they likely can never afford to move, unless they leave SF.
I have lived in SF since 1989. My current rent on a one bedroom apt with garage parking in the Outer Richmond Dist is $945 a month. Nice neighborhood, except for lack of sunny days

Puts it in perspective. In 1989, $945 a month must have seemed demented.

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by Hermesyheracles

Thank you for the opinions.
I have to say that I am very excited about moving to the area in just a few days, but it´s very sad (sometimes a little scary) to read so many people saying that life in SF make us teachers or people not making more than 50K miserables...
I guess we can always get better payed but, money is not everything in this world... I do think SF has a lot to offer, and the worst idea is to spend our time inside our rooms! Don´t you think?
Of course I appreciate housing quality (here in Europe I own two houses), but a "nice house" is not what I am looking for in SF. I am looking for the city social experience, cultural exchange, international improvement of my CV, etc. So I try to resist to believe that SF is that horrible hell for teachers as so many people around here say... Or you really think it is?
I do understand the family point of view, that would change everything for me, but I am not in that position right now.
More impressions?
Thank you!

That income will make you qualified for cities subsidized/affordable home ownership programs. There are usually long backlog for affordable housing but if you can get one of the BMR units then you won the lottery i.e. unless you have kids and their education/safety take priority over city living.

[neutrino78x]

$50K a year is NOT poverty.

Just because you can't buy your own monolithic house does not make impoverished.

At $50k you can have a nice apartment, a car, and a vacation to Europe once a year or so.

Now if you're wasting 70% of your income trying to buy a monolithic house then no, you won't get by very well.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Hermesyheracles

Hello.
I am just a little in shock of how many people in this forums talk about people living in "poverty" in San Francisco. The shocking thing is that they don't refer only to homeless people, but to people working as teachers, and many other jobs that should be more than decent in many others parts of the world...
San Francisco is a expensive city, but is it really at that hell sensation point to anyone not making more than 50K? I guess not all population can work at "technology and director" status, like it seems many people do here...
Renting is expensive, but for me the most important thing is to be able to have a healthy social life; eat out and go to concerts sometimes... So, for me, living in a room won't make me unhappy or "poor". I would feel poor not being able to go out with friends.
How exagerated do you think is this people pointing and talking about employment poverty status in SF even for professional like teachers?

We used to go out with friends and then they had kids. But back then going out on the weekend wasn't cheap. Going out to dinner and then hitting a comedy club -- that was a hundred bucks. Easy. Going to a dinner and then a movie -- almost 75 -- more if you have drink at dinner. We budgeted for it -- they didn't... and they ended up in a hole.

To me that's not cheap socializing. I had co-workers that went to clubs and such -- they spent 2-300 a weekend.

[felinius]

Originally Posted by neutrino78x

$50K a year is NOT poverty.

Just because you can't buy your own monolithic house does not make impoverished.

At $50k you can have a nice apartment, a car, and a vacation to Europe once a year or so.

Now if you're wasting 70% of your income trying to buy a monolithic house then no, you won't get by very well.

I agree that it's not poverty, but you aren't going to have a nice apartment by any means, nor will you have a new (or new used) car that costs over $20k. It also just depends on where your job is, what your bills are, etc etc. $50k is nice to support one person living close to work, but $50k was stretching it for a couple.

[Hermesyheracles]

Thank you all for your words!

[tikkasf]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Puts it in perspective. In 1989, $945 a month must have seemed demented.

The rent was $680 when I moved in, in 1989, it is now $945. The property owner is limited in the amount they can raise rent on a existing tenant in a rent controlled building.

[Blackhawk4440]

The median income in SF is $71,304. That being the average, I'm guess that the poverty level is well below 50k.

Like others have mentioned, the housing costs are high; but SF is still lower than many other places in Cali.

[tikkasf]

It's possible to get by without a car in SF. That can add up to quite a savings. I went without a car for 3 years at one time while living here in SF.

[SportyandMisty]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

If you are making 50k, your quality of living isn't going to be that great in SF. You'll either have to deal with roommates or live in an undesirable part of the city.

Note that enough people moving to those undesirable parts of the city will transform that area to become desireable.