living with children in Bay Area
I am looking into moving family into the sf Bay Area. What experience do you have? What is cost of child care? Any advice?
Too little information. Bay Area is obviously expensive. Kindergartens are ok. Private schools are $20k-$40k per year. Housing with good public schools is $$$
I have two kids under 4. So initially would need daycare or montessori school.
Don't do it.
Explain why cost, environment, etc ? Please.
Cost of living, schools are horrible in most areas. They cut liberal arts and music from the area we were living in. For us to find a place big enough, we had to decide to either pay an ENORMOUS amount for a house semi close to work, or do the super commute. I found I was spending more time at work and on the road in traffic than with my kids.
Kindergarten is about $1,500 a month per kid which I consider to be ok. A house in a good school district is at least 1 mil but you could also rent. Commute is a consideration as well. Ultimately it will depend on where you will be working and how much you will make. Almost everything can be solved with enough money.
Keep in mind there are charter schools too. You might want to explore this option if you don't like the public school in the neighborhood you decide to live in.
Kindergarten is $1.5K per month per child on average, like mentioned above. A house of 3 bedrooms with good schools will cost you probably 4000-5000 a month (or more), depending on the specific area. Does your wife work in tech? In general it's a nice area to live with kids, if you earn enough (A LOT)
My wife kind of works in tech, she has spent last year and a half in a support role at a local tech company. Does not want to continue for much longer. I feel like I read some where that it takes like 200k/year to make family living in Bay Area does that seem right?
Probably more, thinking 250-300, depending on your living standards, whether you want to buy a house or not, and similar factors
Ridiculously expensive. Be prepared to either shell out huge in mortgages/property taxes or rent. Then add private school cost per kid if you live in a neighborhood with bad schools.
Personal happiness is inversely proportional to the length of your commute ;)
A co-worker lives in Tracy (Central Valley) and takes Amtrak Altamont Express every day. Leaves an old car in the Valley to get to his office. It's a 2hr ride but No Stress and he works on email etc. He says he planned it that way to get a nice house for a lot less $$. The train ride is paid by the company via a commuter account. Smart!
I would not bring kids to SF. Down the peninsula, sure.
First of all you must accept the fact that you might not have too many options. Good schools and safe neighborhoods are extremely expensive. I would budget $1k per month minimum per kid for preschool, and that's very affordable. The sky's the limit if you want private school. 2 bedroom apartment will start for 3-3.5k in the good areas. You can find good schools and neighborhoods in the exoburbs, but you'll be a mega commuter. Not a God option with kids. Basically it'll cost you. Most ppl work here as single and leave when they start a family. However it can be done. It's just more of a financial struggle. I have kids. Single income family. We like it here, but it's a daily discussion about when and where we're leaving the Bay Area. Best to head to city-data.com and read the forums there to get more discussion.
Thanks for the insight and link.
This is so spot on :)
Where are you moving from?
Suburbs of Dallas.
Compare with something like this . http://swz.salary.com/CostOfLivingWizard/LayoutScripts/Coll_Start.aspx
Don't do it.
Explain why, cost, environment, etc? Please.
unless you're making 400k it's not worth it anymore. the financial stress from living here is far too high