[tannhauser23]

I have a family (spouse and two kids), work in SF, and live in the peninsula. Quite honestly, I don't know if I can make it work in the long term. The cost of housing is astronomical - any family home in the peninsula is a million at least, and more likely in the $1.3-1.5 million range. Things are cheaper in the east bay, but I still have to go to the near-end of the BART lines to find a townhome in the $800k range. If I go out there, I probably can't ever take a job in the peninsula because the commute will be too hellish.

Even with a developer salary I'm not able to save anything. Housing + childcare/preschool eats everything up. In a few years when the kids are in public k it's possible that I'll have some financial leeway again.

Spending few years here is worth it because this was a career change and I'm able to learn a ton in the bay area. But unless my salary increases dramatically in a few years, I'll likely move to another area.

For you, I'd wait until you have a few offers in hand, then calculate out how much it would cost for you to live here.