How much for a family of 4 to live in San Francisco Suburbs?

Question

A friend is thinking of moving to San Fran' for a new job opportunity. They have a 5 year old buy and 3 year old girl. What can they expect as far as housing costs? Schools? Basic cost of living etc.

Answer 1

3-4 bedroom homes in reasonably close/safe suburbs run in the area of $750,000 and up. Might check places like San Leandro, Hayward, Union City, Newark, Dublin, Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, or El Cerrito (looking at places in the east bay along the bart (metro) lines). If you can afford more add Moraga, Lafayette and Orinda to the list. It bit beyond Bart: Hercules, Martinez, Emeryville. There are parts of Oakland that are okay even nice, but if your friend plans to deal with public schools I'd avoid it or Berkeley. Richmond is also a place I'd avoid.

Answer 2

It all depends on what kind of commute they can tolerate. There is very affordable housing the farther east you go from San Fran. I live 1 hour east of there in a town called Dixon, CA. I can afford a much much better house here than I ever could in SF or the bay area. Not only that, but the neighborhoods are better, the schools are better, it is cleaner, it is safer, and there is far less congestion. There are several commuter solutions to and from the SF area, including rail, carpool, buspool, etc.

Tell your friend to steer clear of Sacramento, though, because the place is a hole.

Unfortunately your friend better act quickly, because more and more SFians are catching on to this and moving east.

Answer 3

My family and I have lived in the SF suburbs for over 20 years. Right now, the breakdown would be:

Rent - $1600 a mo. minimum for 2bd, 2bath
Utilities (Gas, electric, garbage, water, basic cable) - $350-$400
Schools - (Full array of school supplies and projects for two students) $200 a semester per student
Incidentals - (Entertainment, gas, transportation, car insurance)
$350 a month
Groceries - $400 a month