Originally Posted by
sidestep
That is just flat-out wrong for most pilots. Give me a 30 mile radius and I can find you a much better deal in any city with maybe* an exception for SFO.
Trust me, I did EXHAUSTIVE research before deciding to leave HA. Cost of living was the #1 reason.
Comparatively you could live like a king outside of SMF/PHX/LAS even PDX - not costal, but MUCH cheaper.
Apples to Apples probably SFO is more expensive, but for housing, School, and everyday expenses - I could find you better options in every other HA city.
Agreed on this.
My example: SFO based, live outside SMF. Big, nice, new house (small lot though), great schools, very good neighborhood of young professional families, and better weather than almost every place I fly to (except Hawaii).
Total cost? Half mil and a 100 mile drive to work.
I don't regret it in the least.