Salary expectations: how do you answer? (San Diego)

I have been out of work for 14 weeks and feel pressure to accept less. I am in San Diego, in case local advice matters. I looked up ranges in San Diego and they vary a lot. What did you say?

Asking about the range for the role first worked for me. Some recruiters share it.

I gave a range based on local postings and said I was flexible depending on the whole package. They did not push back.