Salary requirements for living in Bay Area (San Jose, Daly City: rentals, house prices)

[Tootsfromscotland]

Hello all , I've searched through many threads but don't seem to be finding the info I'm looking for and I wonder if you guys can help ? What kind of salary /annual family income would be required to live a half decent life in the Bay Area ? Housing needn't be too fancy ? Just a nice three or four bed in nice area/town we have toe daughters, one just started in university and the other in 9th grade so out of state uni fees would need to be factored in my husband is currently working in San Fran temporarily for a few weeks and has completely fallen in love with the area . I myself don't feel we could afford to live there right now , we do have a good income between us and it goes far here in Florida and we are very comfortable . I don't really want to compromise our lifestyle to any huge degree . He does seem to have a bee in his bonnet though about moving and I figured it wouldn't do any harm to do a little researching anyone care to offer some info ? Much obliged

[jade408]

It depends where your job is and what you will give up.

[mrazyattic]

Not one of these again.... You really couldn't find a thread on this subject? We only have about 1-2 a week.... Like anywhere else in the U.S. it depends on your lifestyle. I know people with 3 in their home and they get by with 40k after taxes... There are some who get by on less. Use the dang search button.

Your question is very broad and circumstantial.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by Tootsfromscotland

Hello all , I've searched through many threads but don't seem to be finding the info I'm looking for and I wonder if you guys can help ? What kind of salary /annual family income would be required to live a half decent life in the Bay Area ? Housing needn't be too fancy ? Just a nice three or four bed in nice area/town )

Here are some housing examples:

A 2 bedroom in an area with excellent schools

example house 1

Here is a 3 br from 1959 in the same excellent school district.

example house 2

Here is a 3 br in Daly City with average schools

example house 3

Here is a 4br in Walnut Creek, a 40 minute commute by train and excellent schools.

example house 4

A half decent family income for the bay area might be defined as $250K since it will let one buy a $750k-1M home(at 3 to 4 times income) in a decent school area. An 800K home here will probably look like a 125K home in Tampa.

[Tootsfromscotland]

Originally Posted by capoeira

Here are some housing examples:

A 2 bedroom in an area with excellent schools

example house 1

Here is a 3 br from 1959 in the same excellent school district.

example house 2

Here is a 3 br in Daly City with average schools

example house 3

Here is a 4br in Walnut Creek, a 40 minute commute by train and excellent schools.

example house 4

A half decent family income for the bay area might be defined as $250K since it will let one buy a $750k-1M home(at 3 to 4 times income) in a decent school area. An 800K home here will probably look like a 125K home in Tampa.

Thankyou for that, very helpful of course I've been looking at house prices/rentals etc and some appear not too excruciatingly expensive but then I have no idea about the actual area ! I have spent the last couple of weeks looking through threads here but really couldn't find a definitive number on "do-able" salary. We are around the $250k mark. Of course I think our house here in Florida and expendable income is far more than what we would have in San Fran and to my reasoning , our quality of life would not be fabulous , however my husband is so blown away with the area and the people there ,he feels quality of life would be greater , simply because of the environment and how it differs to Florida . Individuals have different things that define quality of life though . Seems like we may be finding ourselves having to make a big decision again pretty soon ,here we go again !!

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by Tootsfromscotland

however my husband is so blown away with the area and the people there ,he feels quality of life would be greater , simply because of the environment and how it differs to Florida . Individuals have different things that define quality of life though .

There is a big difference between visiting an area and actually living in it day to day. Also don't forget about the California income tax, 9.3% in your tax bracket.

[jade408]

Traffic can be awful. A place like Walnut Creek is more affordable by Bay Area standards but you are going to rule out all jobs in Silicon Valley and San Jose because best case it would be a 90 minute commute each way.

Job location is critical

[comingbacktocali]

why don't cranky people just refrain from commenting?

[Tootsfromscotland]

Originally Posted by capoeira

There is a big difference between visiting an area and actually living in it day to day. Also don't forget about the California income tax, 9.3% in your tax bracket.

Yep don't I know it !😁 my husband is like an excitable child right now , I'm getting texts ninety to the dozen about how wonderful and beautiful it is there , and of that I have no doubt ! but it's not a great time for us to move considering the stage we are at with my girls education and I do have concerns that it wouldnt be a wise move financially ( no income tax here in Florida is marvelous ! &#128540 alas I am being told a perm job offer for him is in the pipeline . Uh oh !

[Tootsfromscotland]

Originally Posted by comingbacktocali

why don't cranky people just refrain from commenting?

I'm with you there