Is it really that expensive in San Jose, CA?

[Drakkon]

So I was offered an interview in the San Jose area kinda out of the blue at somewhere I would like to work but the indication of the salary they are offering seems to be not much better than my current. As I do a little research it says for people in the same area doing the same job I should earn appx 40% more than my current salary to maintain current standard of living. Is this really the case? if so this puts me at a significantly higher salary than they are proposing but they seem to be implying they aren't expecting to pay more than "market value" whatever that means. I don't want to waste this company's time interviewing if I can't maintain my current lifestyle.

 

[robphelan]

i think housing is the biggest difference. we were in LA last month and food was about the same as here in SA.

gas was about 5% higher at the time

 

[Sukhoi]

Renting isn't *that* expensive, but if you want to buy a house you will have to take out a huge mortgage. 40% sounds a little high, and you're not going to get anywhere near that much cost of living adjustment.

 

[Drakkon]

I don't really plan on buying a house as not sure how long this position would really last - Renting sounds like I'm looking at appx $1200-$1500 per month - does this sound right?

Sounds like most can get around on caltrain or buses - currently not an option in my area - and company offers passes to those FREE

 

[Slew Foot]

How big a place do you need? A 1bdr rental should be around 1500, homes would run you 500K for a shack in the ghetto.

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
How big a place do you need? A 1bdr rental should be around 1500, homes would run you 500K for a shack in the ghetto.

that's exactly what i'm talking about..

we have 3B 2Ba, 2150 sq ft on half an acre and pay 1350/month mortgage.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
I don't really plan on buying a house as not sure how long this position would really last - Renting sounds like I'm looking at appx $1200-$1500 per month - does this sound right?

Sounds like most can get around on caltrain or buses - currently not an option in my area - and company offers passes to those FREE

Just rent a room...I pay $800 for a room in a nice townhouse near downtown.

Caltrain would be great if it works for your commute...the express trains are faster than driving at that time of day.

You looking at Yahoo by chance? It's hilarious how hard they have been advertising jobs the last week after firing tons of people a couple months ago.

 

[Dirigible]

Like others have said, housing is the big killer in SV. Other stuff isn't too bad. Mass transit may or may not work for you, depending on where you live/work. A bicycle commute may be workable too. I lived and worked in Palo Alto for a few years during the dot com boom and sharing an apartment right in downtown PA cost me ~$650 (I believe rents have gone up a bit since then) and I commuted via bicycle. I noticed that tiny 2BR houses on the same block as my apartment were over $1M at the time (also would be more expensive now). So if you're single and can share a rental, the housing is much better than if you had a family and wanted to buy. Still likely pricier than you expect.

The big potential benefit of the area is lots of career opportunities and networking.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: robphelan
i think housing is the biggest difference. we were in LA last month and food was about the same as here in SA.

gas was about 5% higher at the time

LA != Bay Area

I've been in Mountain View for two weeks now from Austin, Texas. Bread is $3 dollars a loaf at Safeway. A bag of frozen fries was $4.29. Walmart prices are pretty comparable, but they get ransacked by Mexicans and Asians and never have anything. I miss H-E-B so much.

Gas was $4.67 at a Valero on my way home from work today.

 

[Drakkon]

Stanford University actually is where I'm looking at - i looked for rooms to rent on craigslist and they seem to be $800-1200 for a decent one shared with 1-2 other people but they kinda have weird stipulations - like u cant use the kitchen or are renting a room thats not really a room but a closet or a dining room separated off.

So apart from the housing what are other cost considerations? Groceries? Taxes?

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: robphelan
i think housing is the biggest difference. we were in LA last month and food was about the same as here in SA.

gas was about 5% higher at the time

LA != Bay Area

I've been in Mountain View for two weeks now from Austin, Texas. Bread is $3 dollars a loaf at Safeway. A bag of frozen fries was $4.29. Walmart prices are pretty comparable, but they get ransacked by Mexicans and Asians and never have anything. I miss H-E-B so much.

Gas was $4.67 at a Valero on my way home from work today.

dude, didn't know you moved. congrats.

a nice loaf of bread still runs about $3 at HEB. gas is at 3.89 at my Valero. Frozen fries run about 3, too

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: robphelan

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: robphelan
i think housing is the biggest difference. we were in LA last month and food was about the same as here in SA.

gas was about 5% higher at the time

LA != Bay Area

I've been in Mountain View for two weeks now from Austin, Texas. Bread is $3 dollars a loaf at Safeway. A bag of frozen fries was $4.29. Walmart prices are pretty comparable, but they get ransacked by Mexicans and Asians and never have anything. I miss H-E-B so much.

Gas was $4.67 at a Valero on my way home from work today.

dude, didn't know you moved. congrats.

a nice loaf of bread still runs about $3 at HEB. gas is at 3.89 at my Valero. Frozen fries run about 3, too

I haven't moved...yet.

I'm up here for a month for work. I'm staying in an apartment that is 375 sq feet.

 

[shopbruin]

If you're looking at Stanford, you can probably live anywhere that you can easily get to a CalTrain stop, since the station isn't that far from Stanford. Downtown San Jose may be pushing it if you wanted to walk to the train station... remember, with gas prices so high, all the train stations are reporting an increase in ridership and not as many parking spots available, along with spots for a bike on the train available.

You can probably get a little studio for about 1200 in Palo Alto. I'm looking for decent one bedrooms to smaller two bedrooms for when we move up there, and the two bedrooms are running us about 2200ish, and the nicer one bedrooms probably around 1600, which is around what I pay for our apartment now in West LA.

1. State income tax is probably higher.
2. Groceries are more expensive, but learn to bargain and comparison shop.
3. Gas is more expensive out here
4. You will probably drive around a lot more to get to things and places.

Also since you are interviewing with Stanford, since it is a school (even if it has a huge endowment...) they are not always going to be able to offer market salaries.

 

[robphelan]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: robphelan

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: robphelan
i think housing is the biggest difference. we were in LA last month and food was about the same as here in SA.

gas was about 5% higher at the time

LA != Bay Area

I've been in Mountain View for two weeks now from Austin, Texas. Bread is $3 dollars a loaf at Safeway. A bag of frozen fries was $4.29. Walmart prices are pretty comparable, but they get ransacked by Mexicans and Asians and never have anything. I miss H-E-B so much.

Gas was $4.67 at a Valero on my way home from work today.

dude, didn't know you moved. congrats.

a nice loaf of bread still runs about $3 at HEB. gas is at 3.89 at my Valero. Frozen fries run about 3, too

I haven't moved...yet.

I'm up here for a month for work. I'm staying in an apartment that is 375 sq feet.

eek, my patio is bigger than that. but it's also 25 degrees hotter!

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: robphelan

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: robphelan

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: robphelan
i think housing is the biggest difference. we were in LA last month and food was about the same as here in SA.

gas was about 5% higher at the time

LA != Bay Area

I've been in Mountain View for two weeks now from Austin, Texas. Bread is $3 dollars a loaf at Safeway. A bag of frozen fries was $4.29. Walmart prices are pretty comparable, but they get ransacked by Mexicans and Asians and never have anything. I miss H-E-B so much.

Gas was $4.67 at a Valero on my way home from work today.

dude, didn't know you moved. congrats.

a nice loaf of bread still runs about $3 at HEB. gas is at 3.89 at my Valero. Frozen fries run about 3, too

I haven't moved...yet.

I'm up here for a month for work. I'm staying in an apartment that is 375 sq feet.

eek, my patio is bigger than that. but it's also 25 degrees hotter!

It's pretty ridiculous. I can lay in bed, get a drink from the fridge and lock the front door without even moving.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
Stanford University actually is where I'm looking at - i looked for rooms to rent on craigslist and they seem to be $800-1200 for a decent one shared with 1-2 other people but they kinda have weird stipulations - like u cant use the kitchen or are renting a room thats not really a room but a closet or a dining room separated off.

So apart from the housing what are other cost considerations? Groceries? Taxes?

Anywhere on the Caltrain corridor would offer you great access to Stanford and would probably be cheaper than living in Palo Alto. Also one other thing to consider is traffic on 280 is MUCH lighter than on 101 on the Peninsula. You could live somwhere say near Cupertino or Saratoga and have a pretty good commute.

And yes some of the rooms available have very strange requirements. But if you look long enough you will find some good ones.

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
Stanford University actually is where I'm looking at - i looked for rooms to rent on craigslist and they seem to be $800-1200 for a decent one shared with 1-2 other people but they kinda have weird stipulations - like u cant use the kitchen or are renting a room thats not really a room but a closet or a dining room separated off.

So apart from the housing what are other cost considerations? Groceries? Taxes?

There is state income tax. Sales tax is probably a bit over 8%.

Other than that I'm not much help - lived in the Bay Area all my life except for five years in NH, so don't really know what's different from where you're from.
You working, living or both at Stanford?

This ad is the sorta place I lived in when I was down in Silicon Valley:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/roo/717312785.html

Edit: you can also find relatively cheap rents up near Skyline if you really look. The commute is winding roads, and not very traffic-ey. Redwoods and fog are nice. Don't live there if you don't like quiet and isolation.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

State income tax is 9% CA

Regualr unleaded is $4.45 - $4.55

You can find 1-bdrms all day and night for $1150 - $1350 unless you want luxury. Luxury will run you an additional $3-$500 per month.

Lots of decently cheap ethnic food restaraunts.

Should you come, absolutely. Bay Area/Silicon valley is a great place to visit and work at for a while.

Another big change will be the ethnic blend of people. In San Jose, whites are only about 35% of the population while African Americans are roughly 3%.

 

[leotheliongrrr]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B

Another big change will be the ethnic blend of people. In San Jose, whites are only about 35% of the population while African Americans are roughly 3%.

The rule of thumb is: the closer you get to Cupertino/Sunnyvale, the more Asian it gets. But when you hit Saratoga, Whiteys regain the majority. Damn them and their lack of sidewalks.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

Originally posted by: Drakkon
Stanford University actually is where I'm looking at - i looked for rooms to rent on craigslist and they seem to be $800-1200 for a decent one shared with 1-2 other people but they kinda have weird stipulations - like u cant use the kitchen or are renting a room thats not really a room but a closet or a dining room separated off.

So apart from the housing what are other cost considerations? Groceries? Taxes?

Anywhere on the Caltrain corridor would offer you great access to Stanford and would probably be cheaper than living in Palo Alto. Also one other thing to consider is traffic on 280 is MUCH lighter than on 101 on the Peninsula. You could live somwhere say near Cupertino or Saratoga and have a pretty good commute.

And yes some of the rooms available have very strange requirements. But if you look long enough you will find some good ones.

Plus if you don't drive in Palo Alto you don't have to put up with the jerkoff bike riders who have no regards for traffic laws.

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: leotheliongrrr

Originally posted by: Fmr12B

Another big change will be the ethnic blend of people. In San Jose, whites are only about 35% of the population while African Americans are roughly 3%.

The rule of thumb is: the closer you get to Cupertino/Sunnyvale, the more Asian it gets. But when you hit Saratoga, Whiteys regain the majority. Damn them and their lack of sidewalks.

Why don't whitey like sidewalks? Here in Oakland, you go up to the hills. Whitey's everywhere up there. But sidewalks? No sir. What's up with that?

 

[Alyx]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
State income tax is 9% CA

Regualr unleaded is $4.45 - $4.55

You can find 1-bdrms all day and night for $1150 - $1350 unless you want luxury. Luxury will run you an additional $3-$500 per month.

Lots of decently cheap ethnic food restaraunts.

Should you come, absolutely. Bay Area/Silicon valley is a great place to visit and work at for a while.

Another big change will be the ethnic blend of people. In San Jose, whites are only about 35% of the population while African Americans are roughly 3%.

This. I've been living in San Jose for 4 years now. If you want to live with college people in San Jose then expect $500. If you want to live in Palo Alto with medium quality stuff then $1.5k. If you want nicer in Palo Alto then $2k. Last year I was living in a nice apartment complex (2 pools/ exercise area, free gas bbqs outside, parking garage, large rooms, two story w/ high ceilings, balcony, heating/air and this place was 2k for a two bedroom house. I expect the same place to be more expensive but not more than 500-600.

(Edit: numbers were off.

 

[leotheliongrrr]

Originally posted by: Dirigible

Why don't whitey like sidewalks? Here in Oakland, you go up to the hills. Whitey's everywhere up there. But sidewalks? No sir. What's up with that?

Apples are red; cherries are red; QED Apples are cherries. I was merely making a jest about how the population of Caucasians dramatically goes up when you enter Saratoga, which is a place that has no sidewalk.

I have a friend who lives on the border of Saratoga and Cupertino. Half of his house has a sidewalk, half of his house doesn't

 

[alpineranger]

I live in los altos (south of palo alto, north of cupertino), and where I am there are no sidewalks, and a gutter only on one side of each street (the side the county and not the city is responsible for). My family moved here over 20 years ago from San Jose so I'm used to it. I was born and raised in the area, and the one thing I've noticed is there are fewer and fewer white people every year (I'm not white). When I was in elementary school, almost everyone was white. No african americans at all. Now, I go to mostly the same places I did before and I have to look hard to see any white people. Totally bizzare. I see a lot of asians and indians. Caucasians are probably slightly less than 50% overall but higher than 35% for sure.

There are some nice parts about living here. Transportation on the whole is good. The weather is very good. San Francisco is very close if you need something to do. Most things are really not much more expensive than elsewhere (even gasoline when you consider you will use less), but real estate is.

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

Originally posted by: Drakkon
Stanford University actually is where I'm looking at - i looked for rooms to rent on craigslist and they seem to be $800-1200 for a decent one shared with 1-2 other people but they kinda have weird stipulations - like u cant use the kitchen or are renting a room thats not really a room but a closet or a dining room separated off.

So apart from the housing what are other cost considerations? Groceries? Taxes?

Anywhere on the Caltrain corridor would offer you great access to Stanford and would probably be cheaper than living in Palo Alto. Also one other thing to consider is traffic on 280 is MUCH lighter than on 101 on the Peninsula. You could live somwhere say near Cupertino or Saratoga and have a pretty good commute.

And yes some of the rooms available have very strange requirements. But if you look long enough you will find some good ones.

better live somewhere AFTER the 85/280 interchange.

I live in Saratoga and work in Mountain View, the 16 mile commute takes upwards of 35-40mins. Used to work in Palo Alto and that frigging interchange is a killer, plus getting off on Page Mill it takes FOREVER to get to El Camino. I'm amazed in the 4 months I was doing that I didn't get a ticket, haha.