The first problem here: Living in San Francisco.
I lived in Santa Clara for a year, and let me tell you, that's one expensive place to live.
*However* I'm looking on Craigslist right now, and am finding plenty of room for rent options in San Francisco proper around the $1200 range.
If you're single, you really don't need more than that.
And if you want to raise a family in a house... do it someplace cheaper. The SF Bay area is a place to work hard, earn a lot of money, burn out from all the hours, and leave for someplace cheaper and with shorter work days.