Can you live in San Francisco with an income of $80,000 a year?

Question

Let's say you make $80,000. You have no debt, no car, and want to live in a safe neighborhood close to downtown (within 3 miles). You're willing to pay about $1,500 a month for a studio apartment. You'll also work on a master's degree that should boost your income up higher in the future (2 to 3 years from now). Should you move to San Francisco?

Answer 1

The "average" income in SF is about $45 K so it sounds like you are in pretty good shape. Though you can get by without a car, you might still find that you miss your car. If you move to SF, you won't be bored. But it can be an expensive place to live. OTOH, you can find a cheaper city to live in, but the wages are also lower.

Answer 2

it all depends on what kind of job are you expecting to have? within 3 miles (or a bit further) from the financial district is nob hill and russian hill. both are very nice neighborhoods. SF has a good bus system so a car is almost not necessary. if you are getting a masters degree you are going either to SFSU (below Market street, stay away from)or the University of SF (near inner richmond, also a nice place to live). i am curious to know how you are making 80,000 a year while working on your masters. doesn't your masters comand all your time, i know it did for me, i was very poor and in debt from paying for school. i was barrely making ends meet and i had roomates and a full time job.

whats your secret?

Answer 3

Yes, You can live in the Avenues and get a MUNI pass then you can either walk or ride.

Live in the inner Richmond District.near/ or off Geary Blvd. -- find a place west of Masonic. The #38 MUNI line runs frequently -- or you can walk downtown if you like exercise. Buy the monthly pass

When comparing rents, be sure to ask if you are required to pay any of the utilities. If you pay electicity, gas or/and water, then you need to add a little more on to your housing cost.

Interesting site below.

http://www.rent.com/rentals/california/san-francisco/san-francisco/park-merced/

Answer 4

Lots of people do, though on that I thought my existence in Alameda was a lot more hand-to-mouth than an engineer with a lot of experience should expect. But then I was an H1 slave, so I couldn't do anything to improve my situation.

It won't be a bad life, but it won't be the comfortable living that you'd get in other parts of the country.

Answer 5

Should you move to San Francisco?...Only if you want to.

With $80,000 a year you can live just about anywhere.

Answer 6

Here's a fun little comparison Cost Of Living Calculator. Making $80,000 in Chicago is a little different that the same salary in SF.

Check out the segregated indexes by clicking on them.

Interesting stuff. So they conclude that if you earned $80K in Chicago, it would take $149K to live at the same level in SF.

Yikes!

87.3% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than Denver, Colorado
151.2% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than Little Rock-North Little Rock, Arkansas
16.4% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than New York, New York
49.3% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Florida
42.1% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than Boston, Massachusetts
74.6% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than Las Vegas, Nevada
128.9% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than Dallas, Texas
71.7% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Washington
131.5% more expensive to live in San Francisco, California than Cincinnati, Ohio

The highest percentage was 157.5% more expensive to live in San Francisco than Abilene, Texas

You would be at the same level of living on 80K in SF as if you were making 31K in Abilene. Wooohooo!

Answer 7

YEP THAT IS DEFINETLY DOABLE!

I LOVE IT HERE, MAKE SURE YOU VISIT FIRST BECAUSE IT'S UNLIKE ANY OTHER CITY.