Yes the Bay Area is expensive but some towns more than others. In Marin Mill Valley and towns close to the GG Bridge are very expensive. The upside is you're next to Mt Tam and near the city while being in an almost rustic enviornment...since it's gotten so expensive though it also has aquired some of the snootiness that sometimes goes along with that. San Rafael which is 20 miles north of the GG Bridge on 101 is less expensive but like alot of county seats had some scruffy areas. Novato, 10 miles further on may be the answer. It's not so 'Marin' as the rest of the county and that has it's plusses and minus. It's more of a suburb feel to it but when you get off the freeway and into the town it's quite beautiful surrounded by alot of open space hills and still only 10 or 15 miles if you want to access Mt Tam although there are some trails around there as well. It's not a bad compromise being at least not so expensive as the rest of the county and probably has the best weather in the bay Area if not on earth. (that's no exaggeration there)