"Sustainable salaries" won't fix this issue, as real estate is a competitive market. If you double the salaries of everyone who works in Manhattan, you will still have the same number of people living near work, just paying more rent. A salary increase only helps you move closer to work if other people don't get an increase and you can price them out.

In the end, there are only three options: build more housing where people want to work and live (but it has to be high-rises, not houses with backyards), better remote work options, or better transport infrastructure.