This is very true. I now work for a massive global company with offices here in Vancouver. They bought the company I was contracting for, and lowballed me on salary saying it was competitive with the region, but in the same month, I was I interviewing across the street at Amazon for a hell of a lot more. If I had got the job it wouldn't have been even remotely worth considering. I tried negotiating, but no budge, so we'll see how long that lasts I guess. Not even competitive with other smaller companies in the city.

Companies don't seem to get that even though software devs tend to make more than most, the reality is that in the GTA or GVA it literally costs between $600k and $2m for a modest home. Even a renter would be stupid to not factor in the likelihood their rent will dramatically increase during the time they'll be employed.

Ya, great that I can afford a tiny studio basement suite while splitting rent, but I can't yet whether any significant emergencies or really think about eventually renting a place with a bedroom in it.

Everyone in lower income brackets is just really scraping by more than they'd care to admit.