so less than 2k per month? that seems pretty pricey...about to move into the mission and paying 800/mo.

The high rents in SF are caused by rent control.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-274.html

My point is that the major factor in the pricing of San Francisco housing is that it is one of the most desirable housing markets in the USA. With or without rent control, prices would be high because it is a relatively small city where a whole lot of people want to live.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_population

Delhi 26,276 Kolkata 24,760 Chennai 24,418 Mumbai 22,658 Bangalore 22,426 Hyderabad 21,293 Ahmedabad 19,979 Seoul 17,213 Tokyo 13,682 Wuhan 12,868 Jakarta 12,738 New York City 10,452 Tehran 10,260 Moscow 9,644 Lima 8,544 Yokohama 8,182 Lagos 7,938 São Paulo 7,148

With or without rent control, prices would be high because

...Because the buildings have been built as high as physically possible? If not that, why are San Francisco buildings so short? New York City has 82 buildings over 600 feet high. San Francisco has 7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Ne... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Sa...

If not because of rent-control laws, why does San Francisco supply not follow San Francisco demand? Did you read the William Tucker paper, linked above, that explains why?

It's a low key event which consists of having a burger and a beer with hackers and people interested in startups. Our Meetup page is here: http://entrepreneur.meetup.com/1737/

As far as where to go to meet Hackers.... In the Bay Area, just strike up a conversation with people. 1 out of 10 people living in the area are engineers. You're bound to meet someone.

I recently took a job at a startup in Campbell, and the San Jose area is really nice. It's not as expensive at SF, but it's still "bay area".

Most of the meetup type events I've been to have been in SF. Lots of startups are based in SF too (of the winter 2008 YC companies I think only a handfull are still in the valley, the rest are in SF or elsewhere).

Startups seem to congregate in or near SOMA in particular. The three SF JS meetups I've been to have been in SOMA: Hi5, SlideShare, and Serious Business. Also: Twitter (and their old office's new residents, Get Satisfaction), Engine Yard, and numerous YC companies like Disqus, SnapTalent, Xobni, Justin.TV. And lots of others I would probably know about if I actually lived up there.

But the valley is great too. Of course there's lots of startups there as well. Palo Alto and Mountain View are both quite nice. But be careful because there are lots of boring suburban and strip mall type areas in Silicon Valley.

There was an article last week in the NYT about garages and what they add to the value of a property in Manhattan. Its in the millions. Chances are, if you pay a million extra for a garage, at the very least, you're parking a car there.

Admittedly, if you go far enough out in the suburbs, its not the case. But then you're in the suburbs, which has other challenges (transportation, etc).

All that aside, SOMA is where everything happens. If you can't afford to live there look incrementally further south until you find a place that you can live.

If you post that you're looking for roommates here I expect you will find some. Or http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/roo/

1. Keeps you sane having other people about. 2. Means you're in a big place. Staying and working in a studio would be claustrophobic. 3. You will probably meet other people. 4. It's loads cheaper...

Course, if the flatmates aren't the right people then it would be hell on earth.

You should probably be upfront if you're planning on working from home - wouldn't suit everyone.

We should meet up some time once you are settled!