The Bay Area is one of the most expensive places in the world to live and work, with many businesses offering next to nothing for pay. The cost to rent just a room in many places is over $1000 per month – and often in a situation where you live with 4 to 7 people. $16 to $20ph is piddle for these kinds of costs. And the quality of the rental selection is severely lacking in most of California.
The next time I interview for a job that pays anything less than $25ph is getting a photo album.