anyone in the san jose/cali area?

[nageov3t]

what would you think would be the minimum salary required for a single, child-free guy to live comfortably on?

I'm currently paying like $1K/month in rent, 2K/year in car insurance, and have no car payments or outstanding debt... I don't have a ton of expendable income to throw away, but I don't live paycheck to paycheck either, which is about comfortable in my mind.

just wondering what I'd have to make to keep the same lifestyle living in california.

I'm not out there now, nor am I being forced to go out there, but I've been toying with the idea of asking for a transfer out to our silicon valley office... but if I'm the one asking for the transfer, I won't exactly be able to ask for a cost of living salary increase at the same time.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

I live and work in Silicon Valley. It takes 65k a year.
-AE

 

[Dr. Detroit]

$35-$40K. Anything less than $35K and you will need a room-mate to split the average 2bdrm/2bath rent of $1500/month.

A non-luxury older complex 1bdrm apartment will run you around $1100-$1250. Ghetto craptistic 1bdrm will run $900 or so. Luxury 1bdrm will run $1500-$2200.


I've lived here a little over 7yrs, this area chews up non-locals and spits em out fast. People grow weary of this lifestyle quick, those who make it long-term here hate themselves for staying but ende up staying for the love of money.

 

[deejayshakur]

welcome. just a word of advice: you will stick out like a sore thumb if you refer to california as 'cali.'

those figures sound about right--about $50k. rents are going up fast, last i heard.

any reason you're targeting san jose vs. san francisco or oakland? unless you prefer the more suburban setting, you could probably get by in san francisco without a car and save some dough. then again, if you ever wanted to leave the city, you'd need one. BART can only get your so far.

how long are you planning on staying? any plans to buy a home here in the future?

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: deejayshakur
how long are you planning on staying? any plans to buy a home here in the future?

LOL. If the OPie is wondering what it costs to live there (and apparently cant use one of the hundreds of cost of living calculators on the intarwebs) he is never going to be able to afford to buy.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: deejayshakur
how long are you planning on staying? any plans to buy a home here in the future?

LOL. If the OPie is wondering what it costs to live there (and apparently cant use one of the hundreds of cost of living calculators on the intarwebs) he is never going to be able to afford to buy.

not true...those cost of living calcilators are not all that accurate for somebody willing to save and pinch pennies...

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: deejayshakur
welcome. just a word of advice: you will stick out like a sore thumb if you refer to california as 'cali.'

those figures sound about right--about $50k. rents are going up fast, last i heard.

any reason you're targeting san jose vs. san francisco or oakland? unless you prefer the more suburban setting, you could probably get by in san francisco without a car and save some dough. then again, if you ever wanted to leave the city, you'd need one. BART can only get your so far.

how long are you planning on staying? any plans to buy a home here in the future?

my company has offices in silicon valley... I've been considering asking for a transfer to our SJ office when the lease on my NJ apartment expires (about 8 months from now).

but whether or not I'd be able to live out there on my current salary has a lot to do with it. if I'm the one asking for a transfer, I won't exactly be in a position to ask for a cost of living raise as well.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
$35-$40K. Anything less than $35K and you will need a room-mate to split the average 2bdrm/2bath rent of $1500/month.

A non-luxury older complex 1bdrm apartment will run you around $1100-$1250. Ghetto craptistic 1bdrm will run $900 or so. Luxury 1bdrm will run $1500-$2200.


I've lived here a little over 7yrs, this area chews up non-locals and spits em out fast. People grow weary of this lifestyle quick, those who make it long-term here hate themselves for staying but ende up staying for the love of money.

Hate themselves? Uh... care to explain?

 

[nageov3t]

bump for CA'ers on their lunch break

 

[FP]

I live in the Bay Area (20 mins from SJ) and I think you could easily get by on $45k although it would be a pretty simple (read boring) lifestyle.

You could live in the suburbs of San Jose proper and pay alittle less in housing. San Jose is pretty ugly compared to the rest of the Bay Area in my opinion. I have lived here most of my life and there is a ton of culture.

Are you just looking for a change of scene?

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure
I live and work in Silicon Valley. It takes 65k a year.
-AE

I was just going to say $65K. Any less and you'll have to start watching your money. Part of the thing with living out here is the quality of life is so high because there is so much to do. But everything to do costs money.

Edit: I say $65K for a comfortable livestyle. Good food, going out a couple nights a week, living in a decent place, still taking vacations, etc. Sure you could get by with less if you want to cut some of that out.

 

[CanOWorms]

Don't come here, it sucks.

 

[invidia]

I'm glad I live in Florida. Luxury apartments are the price of your ghetto apartments

 

[maddogchen]

65k is minimum. I say you need 80k a year.

If you opt for a longer commute you can make it at 50k min and 65k avg. longer commute = 45 to 1 hr.

 

[mordantmonkey]

I live in SF and 40k is totally feasible. with stipulations:
1 you aren't particularly materialistic or a fashionista (no D&G, Armani, Rolex, etc.)
2 you prefer cooking to eating out constantly and know where to buy groceries cheaply
3 you are willing to share a 2br apartment
4 you are willing to forgo an automobile in favor of mass transit/bicycling/flexcar
5 you know how to have/make a good time rather than pay to have it provided for you.

hell, following all 5 you could probably get by on 35k and still put some money away. it just depends on what your priorities are.
#4 is probably not possible in SJ and #5 is probably harder as well, though honestly i don't know what the nightlife/culture is like there.

yes, i make more than 40k but i just throw the extra money into 401k, or IRA, or savings.

 

[zoiks]

I live in Sunnyvale about 10 min from San Jose. I pay around 1300 for a 2bdrm apt and I live alone. I agree when people say that you need 65k minimum to live here.

 

[RichieZ]

i live is this area too and its expensive

the numbers put out by my fellow posters are lower than i would think. I'd say 80K would be a reasonable number

 

[Sukhoi]

It really depends how close you want to be to the fun stuff too. The place I'm renting would be $650K to buy :Q, but I know there are some condos over in Milpitas for $300K.

OP, check out traffic.511.org at different times of the day. It will give you an idea of which different commutes are reasonable.