People overstate this.

Specifically owning a home in the bay area is insane. But outside of this one thing, COL changes don't come anywhere close to matching the increased salary. Even if you are including things like childcare.

I'd expect my salary to drop by 250k if I left the bay area. After accounting for COL differences, my savings rate would be far lower elsewhere. Even if you aren't making top of line income, people still can very easily come out ahead in the bay area. That 700 sq ft condo may sell for millions, but it is still only 2.5k/month in rent.

I think you are underestimating how quickly rents have been rising here every year. There's almost never point of rising income when all of those gains are going to rent.

I live here. My income has risen far far far faster than the rent. I'm able to save literally six figures more than I'd be able to elsewhere.

> People overstate this.

You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

The numbers you quoted are from 10+ years ago for the Bay Area.

I live in the bay area, until a few months ago, paid 2,500 for an 800 sq ft apartment in sunnyvale.

And even Portland is expensive - you can buy many homes in the suburbs near Houston for closer to $200k. If I came to work for your company, that would factor into my compensation conversations.