Please consider this as an alternative. Not really, but you won't believe that after spending all your money on the apartment and the car. You can live here on a budget if pressed. Phone rates and utilities are, by and large, cheaper than in most parts of the country. Internet access is highly competitive and is thus pretty cheap too if you shop around.
Groceries are considerably more expensive here, though.
Some people have the mistaken idea that it's warm and sunny in California. While that may well be the case down south, San Francisco is a whole different world. There are distinct seasons. Winter is cooler and rainier. Summer is cooler and foggier.