Tax is pretty important--even at the 15% bracket it's still $3000 a year, not including FICA withholding or state (or for the Bay Area, local) taxes which are easily another $1-2000 more. For someone making $100k a year, that's not much. For someone making $20,000 a year (rounded up) it's a big bite and it definitely changes the affordability calculation.
"For someone making $100k a year, that's not much. For someone making $20,000 a year (rounded up) it's a big bite and it definitely changes the affordability calculation."
Taxes don't work like that of course. The $100k a year person is paying a higher percentage than the low income person. That $20k earner you mention will probably have a very low nominal tax rate after calculating down to their AGI.
