I can relate to this. A few years ago, as a young student that have invested time to learn PHP, MySQL and the inner workings of WordPress Themes and Plugins I found that people who didn't even know HTML where filling the local freelance market with prices I can't beat.

I ended-up offering higher prices for custom solutions (that took me more and more time) finally it reached the point where the highest price I could ask for (as a 20y/o student) wasn't worth the time invested in each project, and I quit freelancing.