And the people that paid $800K – $1.4 mil for tract homes in North County? They are paying $8800/yr – $15,400/yr for the privilege of commuting in traffic hell on I-5 and I-15. That's $733-1283/mo for just taxes and then, as you point out, they get to fork over $300-600/month for Mello-Roos. Some of them also have HOA fees to cover common areas of their development.
Add to that car a payment on an SUV and gas, and you're at $2000/mo just in taxes and transportation.