You should never feel out of place. Cost of living increasing is one worry, I totally get that, but you should never feel like you don't belong.

It's funny, like a lot of others in the thread I'm one of 'those' folks working at one of the big tech companies. I have yet to find another person my age (20s) that doesn't feel like either they make too much or that have some serious imposter syndrome and are terrified of being found out and fired. Usually some combination of both.

That said, I do get the social problems with it. It's tough to make friends with a crowd who's weekend activities are going to expensive sports games, doing crawls at expensive bars, or taking trips to expensive towns or resorts. I've lived that, it's awkward. You feel like you should be able to keep up and guilty you can't. Ultimately I found that the friends that matter will understand and accommodate. You just have to swallow some pride and be okay with that (easier said than done, trust me - I know).

As I mentioned the other obvious piece is the gentrification. That's rough. I can't even fathom looking down on someone for making less and trying to live in Seattle. Heck I think I respect them more. It's easy to make six figures and go set up in a loft in Capitol Hill. It's hard to do the research and find a good place, probably with a roommate, that's in the city. If anything I actually feel guilty for how me and those working at the comfy jobs have made it so difficult for so many people to live in the city.

As many others have said, focus on what's next. No sane person will ever look down on someone who has ambition, who is working hard towards their dream. We all come from someone, and those who have had a tough path to success - and still achieved it - gain instant respect in my book. In fact I love making friends with those people. For those who have achieved that success they're tempered and grounded. For those on the path their focused and determined. These qualities are all just so easy to respect.