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Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

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Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#31

Unfortunately, you're not going to get an exact answer here, because everybody's lifestyle is slightly different. However, you can guess what's going to be the big changes in your budget. I think there will be 4: 1) Your take-home pay will change. Use a calculator for you exact number, but according to [1], a single person will take home about $6,400 / month. 2) Unless you live in Manhattan, your rent will dramatical…

Judging from this thread, very few people are going to be saving 5 million dollars by the time they retire much less decide to have kids.

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#32

Unfortunately, you're not going to get an exact answer here, because everybody's lifestyle is slightly different. However, you can guess what's going to be the big changes in your budget. I think there will be 4: 1) Your take-home pay will change. Use a calculator for you exact number, but according to [1], a single person will take home about $6,400 / month. 2) Unless you live in Manhattan, your rent will dramatical…

Just a gut check, here: assuming you have kids at 32, and start working at 22, it'd be a bloody miracle if you made 5 mil gross, let alone after taxes and expenses. That's half a million per year, every year, starting from entry into the industry. Google pays a lot, but it sure as hell doesn't pay that much.

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#33
Apologies for the throwaway, and numbers are rough

$140k:

  - 1500/mo in 401k
  - 6200 after-tax, after 401k income
  - 2800 savings from after-tax income
  - Total discounted savings/mo, roughly: 2800 + .85 * 1500 = 4075
Is the bay area cost of living expensive? Absolutely. But I'd argue if you're a generally frugal person you'll save more (in absolute terms) here than anyplace else. I doubt I could get much above $100k anywhere else but NYC.

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#34
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So how does that rent compare to the mean in the area, and what are you renting at that price? Because, as an outsider, that seems remarkably low (the averages for SF that I can find suggest 2-3k for a studio or 1-bedroom). Also, how does the rest of your budget break down? Math suggests $1200/mo for all other expenses and I'm curious how that's allocated.

Yea I have been spending a little too much. It's the moving cost and weddings I have been attending that are killing my budget. Yea rent for studios are between 2k-3k a month. And I'm near downtown with only 20 minute walk to work. I live with my brother but if it wasn't for him, I still prefer to live with other people. Again, depends on the lifestyle that people want. I know people who want their own place, have a…

So room mate and no transportation costs. That context helps a lot, thanks!

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#35
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just curious. How many years of experience do you have?

I'm a dinosaur. 20 yrs in my industry.

I'd say no. Not the valley. I just moved my family to Seattle, same situation. I'd been a freelancer in Kalamazoo and the work had mostly dried up, so I got this huge offer and it seemed too good to pass up. I'm having huge doubts as to whether it was the right decision. SV is twice as expensive, I'd not consider it.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15082982

Also have you lived in SV before? I did years ago and didn't care for it even as a 20-something. At least WA has no state tax, mountains right next door, and eh, I like the culture better. More real, less flashy, and still has some blue-collar too. I think better for families. If your offer is from a big name, then they've certainly got a Seattle office. I'd inquire about that possibility. And salaries are very close, especially considering the state tax.

But like I suggested, even Seattle is hard to call a slam dunk. If there was more than one crappy company to work for in Kalamazoo I'd have loved to stay. It's cheap, it's a college town so there's stuff to do, has an amazing arts scene for its size, great outdoor activities, good public schools and park/trail system, and a good mix of political views that still talk to each other. I've lived in IN and OH too, and had less affection for those. So I guess a lot of it depends on your current situation too.

But if you've got a decent job with benefits and are living in a place you don't mind, 140K won't get you far in SV. One other quick note: before moving out here I looked at housing prices but didn't realize that the places that were showing up in my budget were all horrible school districts, so if you think you're seeing some nearly-affordable options, cross-reference the school guides.

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#36

Unfortunately, you're not going to get an exact answer here, because everybody's lifestyle is slightly different. However, you can guess what's going to be the big changes in your budget. I think there will be 4: 1) Your take-home pay will change. Use a calculator for you exact number, but according to [1], a single person will take home about $6,400 / month. 2) Unless you live in Manhattan, your rent will dramatical…

$5M in 10 years at $120k? Even at $200k it's $2M before tax without living expenses. I don't see how you get to $5M unless you're working at Google etc. and even then it's extremely unlikely. You'd have to save half a million a year. Where is this dream job?

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#37

Apologies for the throwaway, and numbers are rough $140k: - 1500/mo in 401k - 6200 after-tax, after 401k income - 2800 savings from after-tax income - Total discounted savings/mo, roughly: 2800 + .85 * 1500 = 4075 Is the bay area cost of living expensive? Absolutely. But I'd argue if you're a generally frugal person you'll save more (in absolute terms) here than anyplace else. I doubt I could get much above $100k any…

So 3400/mo or less in expenses?

Mind breaking that down?

What's your housing situation?

Transportation costs?

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#38

Apologies for the throwaway, and numbers are rough $140k: - 1500/mo in 401k - 6200 after-tax, after 401k income - 2800 savings from after-tax income - Total discounted savings/mo, roughly: 2800 + .85 * 1500 = 4075 Is the bay area cost of living expensive? Absolutely. But I'd argue if you're a generally frugal person you'll save more (in absolute terms) here than anyplace else. I doubt I could get much above $100k any…

$100K+ is doable in just about EVERY major metro area outside of New York as a developer depending on experience. e.g. You won't find that for jr-mid level positions but Sr. and up you can easily.

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#39

I spend $1150 on rent. $100 on utilities. $300 on food. $150 on transportation. Plus a few hundred for annual expenses of flying home and buying new clothes. Adds up to a little over 20k per year. Plenty of families in the Bay Area earn less than $120k and get by. I feel very fortunate to earn more.

What's your living situation that makes $1150 per month possible? Room mates?

Re: Ask HN: How much do you save in the SF Bay Area with $120k salary?

#40

I don't live there but saw this and thought it might help (shows salaries around the world adjusted for cost of life, I found it accurate for London and Berlin). https://www.codementor.io/blog/best-cities-software-engineer...

I can attest Houston is a great city for saving money. I was able to save $40,000 living in a nice 1400 sq ft house in a beautiful historic neighborhood, 5 minutes from downtown. This is while my wife was going to school and not working, we were going out to eat and/or drinks 4-7 times a week, and taking two week long vacation each year.

Used the savings to quit my job try and get a startup or consultancy going.

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