- y.prathyusha
- 01 May 2025
- #Finance & Economics
The most dramatic example is in Santa Clara County, where a single person earning up to $111,700 per year is officially categorized as low income. While this figure may seem staggering to those living outside California, it aligns with the region’s soaring housing prices and overall cost of living. Rent for modest apartments regularly exceeds $3,000 a month, and home prices continue to climb beyond the reach of most middle-class residents.
For locals like Samuel Carbajal of San Jose, these figures are not surprising. “If you make $111,000 a year, you’ll still have a hard time getting a spot here,” he said, echoing the sentiment of many who feel squeezed by the ever-growing affordability gap. The situation has become so dire that even dual-income households find it difficult to secure stable housing within their communities.
San Jose college student Kingsley Egbujor described his struggle to maintain basic living standards while balancing education and work. “It’s not a livable situation,” he said. “People are having to start living outside in different areas like Hollister and Los Banos just to be able to make it even. Buying a house is next to impossible. I can barely afford to live here.” Others have opted to leave the region altogether. Kayla Guerrero, who was visiting South Bay recently, shared that she relocated to Placer County due to the overwhelming cost of living in the Bay Area. “It’s been a great experience. However, I’m away from family and friends and just everything that I knew as I was growing up,” she said. Her story mirrors the experience of many who’ve had to make the painful choice between financial stability and proximity to loved ones.
