Incoming PE associate in Menlo and debating whether to live in the city or Menlo. Definitely leaning towards the city but would be great to hear from others that commute or that live in Menlo about their experience with traffic / lifestyle etc.
| +126 | What’s “the path” now? | 51 | 53s |
| +76 | Is Everyone Too Bearish on PE? | 20 | 3h |
| +45 | Why would anyone do PE in long term in 2026? | 12 | 19h |
| +35 | 3rd Year IB Analyst, Top Bucket, Still No PE Offer. What Would You Do? | 18 | 1d |
| +25 | Is This Normal in LLM PE | 10 | 2d |
| +24 | Q&A: What It’s Actually Like Working at an Independent (Fundless) Sponsor | 4 | 18h |
| +21 | UMM PE or High Paying Strat Finance? | 7 | 14h |
| +21 | Striking out in last rounds | 2 | 2d |
| +20 | On Cycle Preparation | 8 | 23h |
| +16 | Would you use a centralized sponsor research page before meetings? | 6 | 5d |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
If your office is outside the city I 100% recommend living in the wider bay area. Always possible to commute to the city on the weekends to go out and that but getting to the office everyday from the city will be a pain.
definitely stay around Menlo Park. The drive will make you want to KYS especially if hours are rough.
There is a nice scene of 20 somethings in Palo Alto
Anyone making the commute atm? Curious if it’s bearable / worth the benefit of living in the city.
Wondering what benefit you would get from living in the city? Likely you can get a much better place for the same price in MP and save on commute.
Simply more going on and a larger population of younger people in a condensed area. San Mateo and other areas outside of the city have more of a suburban feel, even though there are pockets of younger professionals. Harder to meet people unless you put yourself out there but certainly not impossible. I was someone that knew I would hate the constant commute and appreciate not having to sit in a car for two hours of the day. Caltrain is possible as well but that will likely limit where you can live downtown
if you end up living in the city you have to plan the location of your apartment (will have to be in SoMA to have easy access to the highway). Otherwise, you have to factor in another 20-30 min of driving out of the city from Marina / North Beach. That is all on top of the existing 50 min / 1h30m commute.
I'd say test out your firm/team culture the first year, and if you have the capacity get an apartment in the city for your second year.
Living in Palo Alto is nice, you get a good rhythm going with work and can focus on Hinge/Social Life.
Totam rerum accusamus sit voluptatum aperiam quaerat. Rem voluptatem excepturi facilis voluptas et recusandae aut tempore. Omnis corrupti magni voluptatem odit repellendus est numquam. Omnis enim vero aut velit voluptates qui qui. Ratione sapiente deserunt aut quos non qui.
Qui nostrum cum eos qui quae facere. Animi aut est voluptatem est. Tenetur cumque vel nihil qui quis nam. Voluptas neque quidem facere quia. Quos omnis enim nam distinctio. Ad eos facere modi nesciunt perspiciatis ad.
Sit blanditiis adipisci sint aperiam voluptatibus vitae atque. Nesciunt voluptatibus facere debitis dolores ratione ab. Sapiente sunt eos maiores nostrum libero. Et dolorum sed labore facere quis.
Eos ullam nisi vel quibusdam ipsa officia reiciendis. Nam fugit esse cum vero sint. Quisquam deleniti consequuntur modi mollitia.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...