Worth moving from NYC to SF for huge pay bump?
Don’t want to get in a ton of detail but I make ~$350k in NYC and generally get by just fine. I have a decent one bedroom apartment and can afford to go out and enjoy myself but also don’t feel wealthy by any means. I have an opportunity to move to SF for a job that roughly doubles my cash comp with meaningful equity as well. I’ve never lived in SF and don’t have many close friends there (but have a ton of loose acquaintances, so I think I could probably build up a friend group pretty easily). I’m hesitant to give up NYC and my close friends and family here, and as a late-20s single dude, have heard atrocious things about the SF dating scene. Anyone have thoughts?
I think for twice the compensation + equity, it is worth going. If you hate it, give it full one year and recruit back to NYC.
Worst case, you hate it + bank a quarter mill and know for sure that you are a NYC guy.
Best case, you make vastly more money + expand your network + get to try something different in your life.
Politics of both cities are garbage, though SF is a probably a bit worse in that regard. COL is also comparable.
As you mentioned, dating scene is much worse in SF but otherwise they're not dissimilar options. Might be worth trying a year there and seeing if you like it
Politics of NYC are not even remotely close to the politics of SF.
NYC is blue, but a very moderate sort of blue. Look at who NYC elected as mayor.
SF, meanwhile...
NYC elected Adams, but they did it without the help of Manhattan.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/23/nyregion/nyc-mayor-prima…
Outside of Chinatown (which went to Yang) and a few districts up north and a few districts in the eastern most part of east village either Garcia or Wiley won the district. Garcia did win most of the districts Manhattan, but Wiley was typically the runner up. My guess is the younger progressives sided with Wiley, while those who were older, more established or work in high paying front office roles voted for Garcia.
Money isn’t everything, but 2x+equity is pretty compelling… I’d probably move somewhere much worse than SF for that kind of raise.
Beyond the comp, I assume you’re weighing the career path relative to where you are now. That kind of raise + equity stake sounds like something that gives you an attractive path forward, but if that’s not true and you see the new job as more terminal and your current role providing a path upward, it might be worth sacrificing the comp for a bit to maintain trajectory and social benefits. Obviously the lifestyle requirements are a factor as well - I do know some people making $300-$400k who could probably get a role paying twice that but choose not to because it’d add another 20-30 hours a week, more travel, more stress / demanding goals, etc.
Realistically though, I imagine you’ll retain optionality in this new role and could probably find your way back to another (perhaps even more) attractive position in New York in a few years. Knowing only what you said above, I’d probably risk the new city - I’ve rarely regretted choosing the “more exciting” / “more unknown” option over something safer
You're going to lose a good chunk of the cash bump to taxes (see how they're proposing increasing them even more to provide "health coverage") and you'll be dealing with a lot more human feces. But if you've got no problem with increased crime and can put up with an even more woke culture and hordes of disgusting bums by all means make the move.
Eh...as scary as it sounds to someone in the midwest for instance, they'd actually be saving some in taxes by moving from NYC to SF (with or without the proposed doubling you screenshot'ed). In NYC at the OP's kind of income, that's a 53% marginal tax rate. In SF that'd be just under 42% marginal rate right now, and 49% if the state tax does in fact double. Anyone feel free to fact check me on that one. I admit to not having intimate knowledge with taxes in either locale because I've never had to deal with BS called state income tax or even worse, city income tax.
As for the other two points, haven't experienced either (and with crime actually trending down where I am will less likely experience it) so I can't comment.
Please, like you’re going to turn down going from 350k to 700k plus equity.
You’d take the new gig even if it was in some boring Midwest town, you just wanna brag.
And also, San Fran is a major US city. You really think there are zero quality women in all of San Fran? What nonsense.
Eh, would argue most of CA (and maybe even entire West Coast) quality goes to LA, not SF.
Why not. Worst case scenario you come back to NYC in a year with some cool life experience and cash in hand. SF gets shit on here but is a cool city, especially when your comp is high enough to really enjoy it.
Fuck yeah
"Maybe get a dog, fuck it."
Uh, Phrasing!!!
SF
NYC is no longer the best city to you?
$350K NYC vs $700K SF is SF to me.
I wouldn't wish upon my worse enemy to move to the shit hole that is San Francisco
What does this forum have against SF? Just regurgitating shit opinions, I’d be willing to bet most haven’t even been there. It’s a great city with so many things to do, beautiful neighborhoods and close to so many national parks.
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I live in SF: girls are dogshit. I'm from Spain and I've never been to a place with so many ugly women. With some luck you will see a 6 once every other week.
Dating: everytime I open Tinder or Bumble its just fatasses, blue hair, cringe asians or queers, non-binary and that kind of weird stuff. Lot's of "ENM" if that's your thing.
There's really good surf though, that's the only reason I'm still here.
Have you been down to SoCal? I feel like SF surf is crap compared to the beaches a few hours south.
I've surfed quite a bit in SoCal and I'm not very sure it's that much better. Water is definetively warmer and that is a huge bonus point. In terms of waves, Ocean Beach, Santa Cruz, Montara and a couple more place around Santa Cruz are pretty good and very consistent throughout the year.
SoCal has really good and renown spots like Rincon, Lowers, Huntington... but they are also more crowded... and I wouldn't say they are much better compared to the ones in NorCal.
In terms of girls, SoCal is likes 500 times better compared to NorCal LOL
Also, I agree with dating scene. Absolute crap. I've had (cringe asian) women ask me out, then block me and have her friend scold me for not getting consent to put my arm around her haha. I think she just got angry I was chilling with other women. Lots of damaged goods in SF, all close to being hot, but just a little "off." Lots of fat and blue hair too. NYC girls have style on the other hand.
To he fair, if OP is asian, it's probably best scene for him. But if he is anything else then God Bless.
I would still move to SF for double comp if I never been. Do at least a year and then maybe use the new job to get a higher pay rise somewhere else. Keep climbing the ladder so to say.
Lol you are from Spain so anywhere in the US is shit (except maybe LA and NYC).
I've never been to the South of the U.S. but I've heard good things.
L.A. was very decent and NY also, but I'm still in shock about the absolute dogshit girls in SF LOL
Only a few, the bay area is expensive, take the job if it is what you really really want it.
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