If his wife works, his EFC will be higher than that.
To me, this is the definition of capitalism. Highly desirable location = High cost of living. Like @doschicos said, there are plenty of other high tech jobs out there, and they don’t all end with no other local options. I live in one of those areas. There are plenty of jobs to be had. You’d never get paid $160,000 a year, but then again, if you did, you could live like a king/queen (you’d still have that pesky high EFC though). But the weather’s not nearly as good, the night life, shopping, dining, outdoor activities are lacking, etc. My guess is most of those “barely getting by” in SV would rather keep living that way than move here.
That’s their choice. I just don’t get the complaining.