Photo shows David Valdez outside his coffee shop, Alba.
David Valdez, 35, moved to Detroit from San Francisco and opened Alba, a coffee shop.
  • David Valdez, 35, moved to Detroit from San Francisco in 2018.
  • Since then, he's bought a home and opened a coffee shop.
  • Valdez said those milestones were possible due to Detroit's lower cost of living.

Moving to Detroit helped David Valdez achieve his lifelong dream.

Valdez, 35, moved from San Francisco in 2018, where he worked as a barista and bartender.