East bay - Emeryville Salary Inquiry (San Jose, Sacramento: apartment, rental, daycare)

[Johnsoee]

Just received an offer for a position in emeryville at $105k. We are a single income household with 4 kids. Is this doable or no? I'm originally from San Jose but I haven't been back since 2000. From what I have seen I'm looking atleast a 60 minute commute to find "affordable" housing and decent schools/neighborhoods. Am I off base in my assessment?

[jade408]

That would be a struggle. Only workable if you had 2000s era pricing for housing. It would be hard with even 1 kid. You might find affordable housing in maybe American Canyon but that would be a long traffic filled commute daily. Depends on the lifestyle you expect.

[Chuck5000]

I think Jade is understating it. A family of 6, moving to the Bay Area earning 105k and paying market-rate rent in any city with average or above-average schools even 60 minutes from SF is a big struggle, and possibly not even do-able at all. Do the monthly math. I can't see how you would save at all. Zero luxuries, drive older cars, etc. Hope that no big expenses ever emerge.

I think it's do-able if you go the lower cost towns with worse than average schools, but even then you'll be crammed into a not-that-nice apartment or house. No place is worth struggling this much for when one has other options.

sfbay.craigslist.org is the source for rental listings.

[sav858]

That's really not a good salary for 4 kids, you probably qualify for a lot of subsidized/Below Market Rate housing with that income and # of kids. I personally would only take it if you could get subsidized housing in a nicer area or you'll have to live in one of the bottom tier suburbs with crappy schools and possibly issues with crime. But I'd imagine the waiting list for something like that is long.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by sav858

That's really not a good salary for 4 kids, you probably qualify for a lot of subsidized/Below Market Rate housing with that income and # of kids. I personally would only take it if you could get subsidized housing in a nicer area or you'll have to live in one of the bottom tier suburbs with crappy schools and possibly issues with crime. But I'd imagine the waiting list for something like that is long.

Yeah, I've heard the waiting lists for those can be years long. So they're not really immediately useful for people moving to the area.


I agree with everyone's assessment. While technically possibly, I'm fairly certain the sacrafices needed to make it work would be severe and more than the OP is probably willing to go for: Hour+ commutes, very small apartment/house, limited savings, immense stress that comes from having a huge commute with that many children (i.e. do you really want to put yourself in a situation where you're an hour, or more, away from your family and devote so much time to work+commute?), etc.

If the other partner in the relationship is working, it could work, but then you have to consider the costs of child care, which in the Bay Area I've heard are downright absurd (essentially equal to rent).

[sarahhorselover]

I think you'll really struggle on that salary unless you want a very long commute.

For comparison, my husband and I have a combined salary of a bit under $140k per year. In order to live comfortably, we're all the way out in East Contra Costa County where we can have a decent sized house, good schools, and affordable childcare ($800 per month total for one child in full-time daycare/preschool and one child in three days per week after-school care). But the traffic from here to Emeryville would take hours.

You'll be saving on childcare costs because your spouse doesn't work, but you'll still have to find a place to live near Emeryville that's affordable on your salary and isn't two hours away. I don't know if such a place exists. San Leandro, maybe?

[BicoastalAnn]

On the basis of salary alone, I'd say could be doable but not worth it. It'll be a struggle like everyone said.

But are there intangible benefits to moving in this scenario? Like huge career opportunity that will take his career to the next level? Or is this your chance to move to this area, with the intent to find a better paying job shortly after being relocated? Those scenarios may make it worth it but if it's an unremarkable job then I don't think it'd be with it for you guys to uproot.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by sarahhorselover

I think you'll really struggle on that salary unless you want a very long commute.

For comparison, my husband and I have a combined salary of a bit under $140k per year. In order to live comfortably, we're all the way out in East Contra Costa County where we can have a decent sized house, good schools, and affordable childcare ($800 per month total for one child in full-time daycare/preschool and one child in three days per week after-school care). But the traffic from here to Emeryville would take hours.

You'll be saving on childcare costs because your spouse doesn't work, but you'll still have to find a place to live near Emeryville that's affordable on your salary and isn't two hours away. I don't know if such a place exists. San Leandro, maybe?

San Leandro isn't that cheap anymore. I think finding a big enough place will be limited in options. Maybe Pinole or American Canyon. But it'll be a struggle, I agree!

[Johnsoee]

Thanks everyone! I guess the $77k offer in Sacramento it is! One of these days I'll make it back to the Bay.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by Johnsoee

Thanks everyone! I guess the $77k offer in Sacramento it is! One of these days I'll make it back to the Bay.

I know it seems crazy on paper, but that 77K in Sacramento will go much further. Maybe not specifically in the size of the house, but you'll have a better quality of life, see your family more, and probably be in a nicer neighborhood than you'd be in on the Emeryville salary. Cost of living for inner regions of the Bay Area have really gone up that much, especially for people with families (someone who's single or has one child could probably make it work - but a family of 6 is a completely different situation).