Your tax math is wrong.
Assume you make $100k, and your effective federal income tax rate is 25%.
You make $75k after federal taxes and no state taxes in somewhere like Florida or Texas.
In CA - if you assume 10% state income tax - you make $65k.
You have 15% more disposable income in FL or TX.
You need to earn 15% more in CA to have the same disposable income.
The average worker in SF is getting paid 10%+ more than the average worker in FL or TX.
If you factor in SALT, CA's low property tax, prop 13, and the mortgage interest deduction - you're way better off owning a home in CA financially.
And if you rent - the average person isn't meaningfully that much worse off that they're going to leave their friends & family & community for a <5% tax arbitrage.
If you want to, no one is stopping you.
Assume you make $100k, and your effective federal income tax rate is 25%.
You make $75k after federal taxes and no state taxes in somewhere like Florida or Texas.
In CA - if you assume 10% state income tax - you make $65k.
You have 15% more disposable income in FL or TX.
You need to earn 15% more in CA to have the same disposable income.
The average worker in SF is getting paid 10%+ more than the average worker in FL or TX.
If you factor in SALT, CA's low property tax, prop 13, and the mortgage interest deduction - you're way better off owning a home in CA financially.
And if you rent - the average person isn't meaningfully that much worse off that they're going to leave their friends & family & community for a <5% tax arbitrage.
If you want to, no one is stopping you.