Rents indeed are a lot higher in San Diego. However, I paid 1200 a month seven years ago and now have a nicer 1 bedroom for 1350 so compared to the bay area rents are not as bad. When I lived in Silicon Valley area of Mountain View I was paying 2100 for a 1 bedroom.

Buying a home would cost me 3k a month for a mortgage and I’d also have to drop 50-200k for a down payment. Granted I would have a 3-4 bedroom place with a yard and garage in Santee but still a lot more expensive if I ever lost a job and had to move for work.