I think I hate San Francisco.

[sftiger]

That is the beauty of remote / work at home; capture a high COL metro salary but live where ever you want.

My wife complains about some of her co-workers getting Bay Area comp but quickly moving to low COL areas (and not having to get get re-rated at work for comp). Sounds like a good idea to me.

I agree in theory, but:

1. Most large companies I've seen adjust your comp down. I guess they can't touch your RSUs, so if your comp is very heavily weighted towards that you may be good. But they will adjust your cash comp down. My company moved an entire team to a LCOL city specifically for this reason. I believe you about your wife's company, but that sounds unusual to me.

2. I've seen what happens to remote workers in companies where it's the exception, not the rule. Their career progression largely stagnates, maybe unless they are in field sales (where they're probably remote anyway living in or close to their territory). Most of the people I've talked to don't care because to them, living in a rural area and still getting to work for a great company is a big enough benefit.

3. Pretty much my entire personal and professional network (+family) is spread across four of the highest COL cities in the US. The idea of being far away from all of that isn't something that excites me.

 

[troika]

I mean, they adjust your salary for a reason. Your lifestyle just isn't as expensive in a LCOL area, that's why it's a LCOL area

 

[Guccinski L.V.]

My wife and I are way overpaid working in tech out here and (from what I hear) would have to take pretty big pay cuts to move most other places. So where else are we going to go?

Switzerland?

That is the beauty of remote / work at home; capture a high COL metro salary but live where ever you want.

My wife complains about some of her co-workers getting Bay Area comp but quickly moving to low COL areas (and not having to get get re-rated at work for comp). Sounds like a good idea to me.

Leverage is a beautiful thing and the only way to survive in today's crazy World of shrinking standards.

 

[sfo423]

Its definitely not the norm in tech, but her company is based in Basel and their Bay Area employees (<20) are very specific / science focused, so maybe they have a loop hole or they let it slide as long as you perform.

(Swiss & loophole).

I agree in theory, but:

1. Most large companies I've seen adjust your comp down. I guess they can't touch your RSUs, so if your comp is very heavily weighted towards that you may be good. But they will adjust your cash comp down. My company moved an entire team to a LCOL city specifically for this reason. I believe you about your wife's company, but that sounds unusual to me.

 

[Guccinski L.V.]

Its definitely not the norm in tech, but her company is based in Basel and their Bay Area employees (<20) are very specific / science focused, so maybe they have a loop hole or they let it slide as long as you perform.

(Swiss & loophole).

Swiss probably invented loopholes. Working for Swiss company is a wet dream of every underpaid European socialist.

 

[sfo423]

Basel is a beautiful place. Not a bad retirement / relo option. Probably higher COL than SF.

Swiss probably invented loopholes. Working for Swiss company is a wet dream of every underpaid European socialist.

 

[sftiger]

I mean, they adjust your salary for a reason. Your lifestyle just isn't as expensive in a LCOL area, that's why it's a LCOL area

Fair. I have never done the math myself, but I thought the consensus was you still usually take home significantly more in HCOL cities because the comp difference is a much larger than the COL difference. Maybe that’s just the Stockholm syndrome talking. But if my rent is $1K in a LCOL city rather than $4K in SF, I’m probably taking a bigger pay cut than $36K.

 

[sftiger]

Its definitely not the norm in tech, but her company is based in Basel and their Bay Area employees (<20) are very specific / science focused, so maybe they have a loop hole or they let it slide as long as you perform.

(Swiss & loophole).

That is awesome. Glad you all can pull it off!

 

[Guccinski L.V.]

Basel is a beautiful place. Not a bad retirement / relo option. Probably higher COL than SF.

Basel is ok for small city, there are certainly better cities in Switzerland than Basel in terms of urban life, surrounding landscape and access to the Alps. I don't know anyone who would be planning to retire in Basel or Switzerland in general. Most Europeans return to their home countries after they collected all the Swiss Franks. Switzerland has no universal healthcare system, it is for profit only like in US, scares most retirees.

 

[troika]

Fair. I have never done the math myself, but I thought the consensus was you still usually take home significantly more in HCOL cities because the comp difference is a much larger than the COL difference. Maybe that’s just the Stockholm syndrome talking. But if my rent is $1K in a LCOL city rather than $4K in SF, I’m probably taking a bigger pay cut than $36K.

I think it heavily depends on what your lifestyle expenses are. Rent is one component, but imo it's small potatoes compared to: ability to own a home and build equity, childcare & schools, commute cost (all resources considered), food & drink (you'd be surprised how much less basic things cost, even at whole foods), and overall transportation.

All of these things determine your lifestyle, and some apply way more than others. If you don't have kids and commute on the bus anyway, it may not matter as much. But if you're dropping a full salary to take care of additional things, it could be time to reconsider.

 

[Omega Male]

I remember when in the 1990s it was a THING to move to CA for a better life and weather. Look what it has become.

Have lived all over the world and NorCal is by far the best spot, if cost of living is not the main consideration.

 

[Guccinski L.V.]

Have lived all over the world and NorCal is by far the best spot I 've ever lived in, if cost of living is not the main consideration.

FTFY

 

[Omega Male]

YMMV, indeed.

 

[sftiger]

I think it heavily depends on what your lifestyle expenses are. Rent is one component, but imo it's small potatoes compared to: ability to own a home and build equity, childcare & schools, commute cost (all resources considered), food & drink (you'd be surprised how much less basic things cost, even at whole foods), and overall transportation.

All of these things determine your lifestyle, and some apply way more than others. If you don't have kids and commute on the bus anyway, it may not matter as much. But if you're dropping a full salary to take care of additional things, it could be time to reconsider.

We own a home, have (very young) kids, and commute is pretty easy. Maybe I’m delusional, but I suspect our HHI would go down $100-$200K moving to a LCOL city which I’m pretty sure is not the difference in COL.

 

[sugarbutch]

One of the wonderful things about freedom of movement (while it lasts, anyway) is that if you don't care for the Bay Area, you can move. On balance, I didn't like the places I'd lived before, so I moved. Funny how that works.