The cost for housing (buying or renting) is extremely Expensive in most Calif. Cities where the Jobs are located. Trouble is, its not the only thing that's expensive in California.
Food in Los Angeles is significantly more expensive than the national average. A gallon of milk costs $3.81, and a loaf of bread costs $2.77. A dozen large eggs is$2.98 and 16 oz. of cheese is $5.25. For a pound of boneless, skinless chicken *******, the cost is $4.76. Sep 14, 2017.
Here in Shoals:
Milk - $0.98/Gal - Walmart & Aldi- Diff. 2.83 x 52 wks.= $147.16 per year Increase for milk alone. (We get the picture for the remaining items)
Bread - $0.85/ Aldi
Lg. Eggs - $1.28/doz
Boneless Ck.Breast- Recently paid ~ $1.30/lb.
Cheese - Not sure if its Pasteurized Process Cheese Product or Real Hard Cheese they are using for pricing, but if Hard Cheese blocks - $3.70 lbs. Aldi - Still cheaper here than Calif..
Californians would need to make over $100,00/year to Scrape by. You may not qualify for a Mortgage with $100k earnings, purchasing $536,250.00 Home? May have to downgrade to $450,000 home.