Right. I guess it depends on what your other expenses you have. For example, $2k out of that extra $3.5k would got to student loans for me. So spending $3.5k on rent just doesn't work. If you don't have student loans or any major debts sucking up your income then I envy you.
I'm pretty fortunate in that not only do I not have any debt, but my fuck you fund has enough for several months of full living/lifestyle costs. If I move back to my home country, then I have enough for two years.
Closer to 45% really. But it's still cheaper than paying less rent and owning a car. Not having any dependents is also pretty handy in keeping money piling around instead of spending it.
We also save a lot (and are healthier and save time) by cooking at home instead of going out to eat.
So, really, we get to both live in downtown SF, and travel pretty much whenever we feel like it.
What's your reason for living in SF and still traveling frequently? Access to work in SF?
I ask because I'm a remote worker for an SF startup, home base in a low cost of living area, but I travel frequently as well (but the home was purchased somewhere where the house is paid in full already and the monthly upkeep is ~$500/month).
Access to work is about the same as remote with social network in SF.
Two reasons why I choose to stay here: 1) building said network so I can go back to proper nomading easier, and 2) access to the startup lottery; nobody gives shares/options to remote workers and/or independent consultants/freelancers
Lottery is a nice potential upside with next to zero downside as an engineer
What is special about 12%? Are you saying that someone is spending excessively on housing if their rent is $500/mo and they are making $4k/mo gross income?
If we made $200k+ each, or if even just one of us did, $4k wouldn't even be worth thinking about.
[1] by "afford" I mean that there is money left at the end of the month.