US News A six-figure salary is considered 'low income' in San Francisco, and the threshold is rising

The Bay Area is so expensive, earning $117,400 a year qualifies you as "low income" in some counties.

Every year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development releases "income limits," the minimum income level required to qualify for some affordable housing programs.

To be considered "low income" in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties, a family of four must earn $117,400 a year. "Very low income" is considered $73,300.

The Bay Area figures are the highest in the country and continue to increase year over year. Income limits in some Bay Area cities increased by 10 percent just in the last year.

Am in Alameda county. This is not surprising.

People are going through great lengths to find cheap housing, whether it be living in cramped conditions or dealing with 1.5-2 hour commutes (one way).

Wait, you live in that county? I couldn't imagine how much of living cost is high there.

tom_mai78101 said:

Wait, you live in that county? I couldn't imagine how much of living cost is high there.

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As of 2015 ya. Basically everything out here is funny money, tech job salary included. You can find ways to save but it'll never match up to most other US cities. It does present yourself the option to save massively, though ... some coworkers find a way to live in full on ~$1k or so a month & they're well into the 6 figure range.

What this surge in prices kills though is the middle class. Jobs like teaching, health services, etc either become inflated as well salary-wise or they're expected to just live with less. And that sucks.

At least when I shop online things FEEL cheaper now, heh.