flu — why are NYC and NJ “shitholes” for tech workers? At the lower end of the income range, you have a hell of a lot better chance of buying a single-family home than in SD. You also have access to subsidized apartments for sale, meaning low maintenance fees (generally taxes + common charges + heat all rolled into one monthly fee). Unless you bought in SD between 2008 and 2012 or the markets crash again, you’re probably better off cost-wise in the NYC area.

Not all of NYC is Manhattan below 125th St. Per NAR – average NYC metro SFR price ~= $400k. Average for San Diego metro ~=$650k.