Even nearby areas are pricey.
Yep. I was born and raised in SF, have seen a lot of changes. Streets that had parallel parking had lots of empty parking spaces. Now some streets in the old neighborhood wide enough, were converted to diagonal or 90 degree parking, and not a parking space to be found, because of multiple families or occupants stuffed into small housing each with cars. I live in a suburb, but travel into the city often. Very crowded. Old very tall multi-story tenement buildings for low-income housing were torn down (due to rampant crime), and replaced with one or two-story projects - so less space for low income families, but they built more against freeways or on parkland areas formerly off limits to building. It's a mess.
A lot of folks pulled out and moved to towns 50 to 100 miles away because it's cheaper. But the crime and gangs followed them. Result, is less crime in SF and close suburbs. People who cashed out and left, can't afford to come back. One can afford housing 100 miles away, if you don't mind commuting on crowded freeways. Jobs are fewer and crime higher out there, so people do drive to SF jobs. Jobs are what it's all about, if you have the talents they're looking for (hint, illegals and low-lifes need not apply), lots of techies moving in. 100 miles away, fewer jobs.