Lateral move to Bay Area

[Anonymous]

We make $150k in DC, live in an exurb with DW staying home, but need to move there for a variety of reasons.

To support a similar lifestyle, somewhere with decent schools, SFH, about an hour from job centers (I think equivalent to Howard County where we live now), how much would I need to make?

I did a Calculator and its saying $150k in DC metro is same as $277k in Bay Area. Is that sort of the number I need aim for?

[Anonymous]

Probably closer to 400k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably closer to 400k.

DMV is THAT cheap compared to Bay Area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably closer to 400k.

DMV is THAT cheap compared to Bay Area?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably closer to 400k.

DMV is THAT cheap compared to Bay Area?

Yes.

Surprising, my brother make $250k an seems to be able to afford a $1.3M house fine, which can get you a nice place in Walnut Creek for example

[Anonymous]

The problem is, there aren’t really exurbs there like in DC. The “exurbs” are high priced SV areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We make $150k in DC, live in an exurb with DW staying home, but need to move there for a variety of reasons.

To support a similar lifestyle, somewhere with decent schools, SFH, about an hour from job centers (I think equivalent to Howard County where we live now), how much would I need to make?

I did a Calculator and its saying $150k in DC metro is same as $277k in Bay Area. Is that sort of the number I need aim for?

Yes - that would be about correct to maintain a standard middle class lifestyle
If you want an upper middle class lifestyle, you need to aim for an even higher salary

Everything costs more there, just not housing costs. From the box of cereal to a gallon of gas to electric bills

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is, there aren’t really exurbs there like in DC. The “exurbs” are high priced SV areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is, there aren’t really exurbs there like in DC. The “exurbs” are high priced SV areas.

[Anonymous]

Right now you have a house in (im guessing) somewhere like ashburn, a stay at home spouse, and good public schools, all for your 150K salary which comes with decent hours is my guess.

This is pretty much impossible unless you make around 400k in the bay area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right now you have a house in (im guessing) somewhere like ashburn, a stay at home spouse, and good public schools, all for your 150K salary which comes with decent hours is my guess.

This is pretty much impossible unless you make around 400k in the bay area.

Spot on. Straight 40 hour work week with relative stability for govt contracting. Long commute is a drag and commute eat money.

Why can’t I replicate in like Walnut Creek or Danville?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right now you have a house in (im guessing) somewhere like ashburn, a stay at home spouse, and good public schools, all for your 150K salary which comes with decent hours is my guess.

This is pretty much impossible unless you make around 400k in the bay area.

Spot on. Straight 40 hour work week with relative stability for govt contracting. Long commute is a drag and commute eat money.

Why can’t I replicate in like Walnut Creek or Danville?

The East Bay affords more possibilities/opportunities than the South Bay and SV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is, there aren’t really exurbs there like in DC. The “exurbs” are high priced SV areas.

Bay Area resident here, and this isn't true. The Exurbs are probably more expensive that the DC area, but they exist and are much cheaper than the major cities or anywhere that touches the Bay.

OP, I think your calculation is correct...but you need to figure out where your job would be located and what that would mean commute-wise, since that will limit your options a lot (unless you want to spend 4 hours/day in your car). Also, "good schools" aren't really a thing in California. There are pressure cookers in rich areas, and then there is mediocre with some decent charters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is, there aren’t really exurbs there like in DC. The “exurbs” are high priced SV areas.

Bay Area resident here, and this isn't true. The Exurbs are probably more expensive that the DC area, but they exist and are much cheaper than the major cities or anywhere that touches the Bay.

OP, I think your calculation is correct...but you need to figure out where your job would be located and what that would mean commute-wise, since that will limit your options a lot (unless you want to spend 4 hours/day in your car). Also, "good schools" aren't really a thing in California. There are pressure cookers in rich areas, and then there is mediocre with some decent charters.

That is heartening, now I just need to find a job at a non-big 5 (I’m a Fed IT consultant) that pays $300k. Probably I should go into sale, right

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right now you have a house in (im guessing) somewhere like ashburn, a stay at home spouse, and good public schools, all for your 150K salary which comes with decent hours is my guess.

This is pretty much impossible unless you make around 400k in the bay area.

Yup, run the numbers and things are nuts in the Bay Area - and remember you also need to account for taxes (property/income/sales). Take your house price and at least triple it (for the same commute times WITH good schools/paying for private - which is much harder to get in the bay). Now some things are the same/cheaper (look at groceries). But when all is said and done, a family that spends 115K after tax in DC will need something like 200K in the bay. But the way that progressive taxation works, you'll need 150K in say VA, but 300K+ in the south bay. (now these are rough back of the envelope calcs, but you get the idea).

I'm ex-bay myself. The DC area is dirt cheap. Hell, people in DC actually even can use neighborhood publics school and live in 1.25M AU park homes a couple blocks from the metro.