SF Is One of the Worst-Paying Places in the US for Software Engineers

Your examples don't disprove the article's main point, which is that the cost of living in the Bay Area (and New York) erodes much of the salary bump you get by working in those places. Paying $1200 to rent a bedroom is normal in NY and SF, but that price will get you an entire apartment or more in many other places.

Look, to many of us, the Bay Area is worth its high cost - being in the center of the tech industry, surrounded by thousands of companies, and enjoying the beautiful weather of this region makes up for expensive housing. But as the tech industry grows in other cities and as their salaries increase, I'm beginning to seriously think about moving.

The kind of tradeoffs that I made when I was young, stuff like having roommates, living in a rundown place, longer commute, etc. increasingly don't make sense as I get older. I have a family, and looking for a house in the Bay Area is a sobering affair. Nothing can be had in the Peninsula for under $1.2 million, and even across the Bay homes are $800k plus.

Meanwhile my friends in Seattle and other cities are buying real family homes and living the American dream. I have to wonder, is it worth staying here?

Who would have more money in the bank at the end of the year? A software developer in SF spending $40k on rent, or a software developer in Detroit spending $0 on rent?

The argument most miss is that if you buy a place in SFO, that rent isn't throwaway, it's equity.

Though I live in the Midwest. Was lucky to find a big salary here.

Data point of one:

- $2200/mo 1BR apt in SF (Inner Sunset). Not trendy, but nice. I got it 3 years ago.

- Working for a major tech co.

- Roughly $275K/yr in total comp (salary/equity/bonuses). It goes up around $10-20k every year, as my equity bumps compound and I get raises.

- Putting away $18k/yr in 401k + $9k company match.

- Average bills of $1000/mo. Mostly leisure spending, but also includes the occasional Lyft, etc.

- Mostly eat at work for free. Minimal food in the house for dinner, which I don't eat that often (I snack a lot at work and don't feel hungry). I think I eat out about 2x/week.

- No car, though I occasionally ZipCar or mooch my GF's. CalTrain and Clipper card are paid by my company.

My net worth on Mint has increased roughly $50-100k/year since I began working here, due to cash savings and stock vesting. I take an international vacation every year, and visit my family 3x/year.

I previously worked in the Midwest and life wasn't nearly as fun, nor was I making as much money. More importantly, I didn't have job flexibility. The workplaces were terrible there (SV culture, silly as it can be, is much friendlier to employees), and there weren't as many jobs. They also didn't pay for public transport, give you equity bonuses, pay for your meals, or had office snacks. A spacious house couldn't make up for all of those differences.

I'm glad I came to SF, despite its downsides (like less space, commuting, etc). There is a big trend in bashing it, but if you're good at what you do and know how to manage your money, you can do pretty well here. Not to mention have a higher quality of life. And if I decide to move back (which is likely, so I can be closer to family) I'll go back with an amazing CV and probably better career options.

Stop listening to haters. Don't knock it till you try it.