Ask HN: Would the Bay Area be benefical? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Would the Bay Area be benefical?

5 pointsmoco8512 comments

A little about myself:

- Been programming for ~4 years - Self taught - Wife and one child - Only ever worked telecommute - I'm in my late twenties - Canadian

I'm wondering if moving somewhere like the Bay Area would be beneficial for my career. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

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Rent is high and house price is absurd in SF Bay area. But there is a reason for this. You know supply and demand theory. If you want to put up for a longer commute then you can rent a relatively cheaper place in east bay or North bay and travel by BART. So it is not only the price. It is the tech community you will get and friends/connections you make.

Salaries and standards for programmers are way higher here than anywhere else.

One way of framing it, is asking if you were already living in the Bay Area, would be willing to take a $40-$70k/year pay cut to move home to be closer to friends, family, and more affordable housing?

Does the cost of living versus increased salaries come out in the green, when it's all said and done?

As long as you don't value home ownership. Or, if it's roughly even, then it includes what is mostly a higher quality of life in the Bay Area.

Depends on how much your cost of living is currently but in my own experience, its probably more expensive overall to be in the Bay. Not only has cost of living hiked in recent years, but also to consider one of the highest sales tax, etc... And everything is in general more expensive for the equivalent elsewhere.

I still think its a great place to be but you really have to decide if you love being here or not. Its definitely a unique culture.

Any advice for getting a taste of that culture before moving there?

Unfortunately outside of a long vacation visit, its really hard to get a first hand feel for this. Before I moved to the SF several years back, I came to visit and living here vs visiting (for a week) was a day and night contrast. You might feel some of it but you won't really be immerse in it unless you spend some time here.

Everything is vastly different. Mindset, behaviors, the people, the way things work, etc.. Its incredibly hard to explain to others outside of the cliche everyone states. Its one of those things that is best felt personally to see if the way things here best fits YOU.

Go to Burning Man

I've been thinking the same thing lately. I go to university in Vancouver right now, its not very easy to meet people who are truly passionate about hacking - its just not the vibe out here. Vancouver is about being a weekend warrior.

What do you want to be doing? Do you still want to work from home, or do you want to be part of a startup or larger company?

I'm interested in working with a startup or established company but I would prefer to work in house.

Yes.

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