Silicon Valley Checklist · From my video notes
Do the math before the salary decides for you.
The resource list behind my video on Silicon Valley money. High pay is real. So are rent, closing costs and the mortgage that locks the next twenty years in place. Run every number yourself with these tools.
By Koki · October 2026
Run your numbers
Free calculators and official guides. The official ones have no sign-up walls.
Numbeo · Cost of Living in San Francisco
Crowd-sourced prices for rent, groceries, restaurants and transit in San Francisco, updated continuously. Start here for a real monthly budget.
Compare citiesNumbeo · Cost of Living Index 2026
Every major city ranked on one index. Compare San Francisco with Austin, Seattle or New York before deciding where the salary goes furthest.
Calculator · FreeNerdWallet · Closing Costs Calculator
Estimate the one-time fees on a home purchase: origination, title, taxes and insurance. The number buyers forget until the closing table.
Calculator · FreeNerdWallet · How Much House Can I Afford
Work backwards from income and debts to a price range. Use it to cross-check the bank's number, which is sized for the bank.
Official guide · FreeCFPB · Owning a Home
The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's homebuying hub: loan options, rate exploration, closing checklists and form explainers.
Official guide · FreeCFPB · Your Home Loan Toolkit (PDF)
The CFPB's step-by-step booklet on shopping for a mortgage, with worksheets and the questions to ask lenders.
Salary dataLevels.fyi
Verified tech compensation data by level and location. Know what an offer is worth before you plan a life around it.