Anyone in San Francisco
Discussion
All things considered (not just housing cost), metro San Francisco is the 2nd most expensive place to live in the USA. I'm unsure how comparable it is to London. If you take your current rent/mortgage payment of 1500 and convert that to $$$,(i.e. $1500) you cannot live in the metro area with that kind of money, unless you're prepared to really slum-it. State income tax is high also - CA is technically bankrupt and earthquake insurance has a significant effect on property prices. Add property tax, CA sales tax, healthcare etc. etc.
I wouldn't want to have to live there, earning less than $175K. Is this a work move?
I wouldn't want to have to live there, earning less than $175K. Is this a work move?
Matt Harper said:
All things considered (not just housing cost), metro San Francisco is the 2nd most expensive place to live in the USA. I'm unsure how comparable it is to London. If you take your current rent/mortgage payment of 1500 and convert that to $$$,(i.e. $1500) you cannot live in the metro area with that kind of money, unless you're prepared to really slum-it. State income tax is high also - CA is technically bankrupt and earthquake insurance has a significant effect on property prices. Add property tax, CA sales tax, healthcare etc. etc.
I wouldn't want to have to live there, earning less than $175K. Is this a work move?
Thanks Mark.I wouldn't want to have to live there, earning less than $175K. Is this a work move?
Well GBP 1,500 pet month is actually equal to $2,400 USD per month if you look at it that way.
Would this not cover a decent 2 bed flat in San Francisco?
Earning less than $175k really jesus thats a huge wedge.
I was looking to obviously increase my salary but $175,000 is a bit unrealistic.
It's all relative, I suppose. Is this a work move? I ask, because if your employer is driving this, perhaps adjusting your remuneration to compensate for the cost of living hike - and converting your salary from Sterling to $$$, that might make things a bit easier.
$2400 for a decent 2 bed appt in metro San Fran is still a stretch.
$175k is not a monster salary for a professional/technical individual in a managerial position (which you would need to be, if moving on an L1-A or H1-B) in California, particularly San Diego, LA or SanFran.
Are you looking to buy an appartment, or rent one? Like I said, all relative, I suppose. For me to live the way I do in FL,(reasonable neighborhood, 4 bed 2 bath, two reasonable cars and not struggling from one paycheck to the next) but in San Francisco, I'd need joint income of $175k.
$2400 for a decent 2 bed appt in metro San Fran is still a stretch.
$175k is not a monster salary for a professional/technical individual in a managerial position (which you would need to be, if moving on an L1-A or H1-B) in California, particularly San Diego, LA or SanFran.
Are you looking to buy an appartment, or rent one? Like I said, all relative, I suppose. For me to live the way I do in FL,(reasonable neighborhood, 4 bed 2 bath, two reasonable cars and not struggling from one paycheck to the next) but in San Francisco, I'd need joint income of $175k.
Like anywhere else, you get what you pay for. Here is a good place to start looking:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/
BBL-Sean said:
Like anywhere else, you get what you pay for. Here is a good place to start looking:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/
Thanks, it seems that most of the rental properties all come up unfurnished? Is this the norm in the States. We have furnished our rental in London, but we dont want to ship all our furniture half way round the world.http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/
Do any rentals come with furnishings, or will we be looking to do this ourselves?
JonX2C said:
Thanks, it seems that most of the rental properties all come up unfurnished? Is this the norm in the States. We have furnished our rental in London, but we dont want to ship all our furniture half way round the world.
Do any rentals come with furnishings, or will we be looking to do this ourselves?
I've never rented here, but my daughter has - never seen a furnished appartment offered in this part of the world (FL). You do get fridge/freezer, laundry and stove of course.Do any rentals come with furnishings, or will we be looking to do this ourselves?
Furniture is relatively cheap - sell or store yours and buy some more when you get here.
Rental properties in Chicago are all unfurnished as well, this is the norm for the States, when I first moved here I used Habitat Corporate Suites (a corporate centric rental firm) who provided a furnished apartment. They appear to only be Chicago based - but I am sure there are equivalents elsewhere.
JonX2C said:
BBL-Sean said:
Like anywhere else, you get what you pay for. Here is a good place to start looking:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/
Thanks, it seems that most of the rental properties all come up unfurnished? Is this the norm in the States. We have furnished our rental in London, but we dont want to ship all our furniture half way round the world.http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/
Do any rentals come with furnishings, or will we be looking to do this ourselves?
John
I relocated from the UK to the Bay Area in 1999 and was there for 6 yrs - 1.5yrs in Palo Alto and 4.5yrs in the heart of the city. Yes this is some time ago, and yes, costs have moved on measurably no doubt, but hopefully of some relevance.
I went out on a sponsored L-1 visa with my then employer, PwC, and when I left in 2005 to return here, was earning under the $175k quoted. Yes, I did not have an overly expensive lifestyle, but still lived in a superb apartment (furnished by my own US furniture purchases) with parking, on the top of Telegraph hill with a roof balcony, and drove a V8 Mustang covertible. I had what I consider to be a splendid quality of life, and never felt I could not afford to save, but equally go out regularly, go skiing in Tahoe, explore the area etc. Unless things have changed out of all proportion, I would hope this is still realistic on a good - but not large - salary (not going to get into $amts as everyone has different definitions of this).
Some other thoughts - and happy to be proven out-dated here given I have been gone for 6 yrs - furniture is not excessively expensive in the US, for even good quality equipment, and most strong companies will provide a relocation allowance specifically to accommodate these purchases. Make sure you give some thought as to banking/credit references as I suspect it is now more difficult to get a social security number and bank account with your company's support and perhaps temporary funds to settle you in. Also - any role over there at this level ought to include private medical, 401k entitlement, short/long term disability and potentially a flight back to the UK once a year. It may also include support on US tax returns which you will need to do, albeit which can be quite simple if you only have earned income.
I never regretted a single minute of my time there and still miss it! Happy to answer any further queries via PM if needed.
Craig.
I relocated from the UK to the Bay Area in 1999 and was there for 6 yrs - 1.5yrs in Palo Alto and 4.5yrs in the heart of the city. Yes this is some time ago, and yes, costs have moved on measurably no doubt, but hopefully of some relevance.
I went out on a sponsored L-1 visa with my then employer, PwC, and when I left in 2005 to return here, was earning under the $175k quoted. Yes, I did not have an overly expensive lifestyle, but still lived in a superb apartment (furnished by my own US furniture purchases) with parking, on the top of Telegraph hill with a roof balcony, and drove a V8 Mustang covertible. I had what I consider to be a splendid quality of life, and never felt I could not afford to save, but equally go out regularly, go skiing in Tahoe, explore the area etc. Unless things have changed out of all proportion, I would hope this is still realistic on a good - but not large - salary (not going to get into $amts as everyone has different definitions of this).
Some other thoughts - and happy to be proven out-dated here given I have been gone for 6 yrs - furniture is not excessively expensive in the US, for even good quality equipment, and most strong companies will provide a relocation allowance specifically to accommodate these purchases. Make sure you give some thought as to banking/credit references as I suspect it is now more difficult to get a social security number and bank account with your company's support and perhaps temporary funds to settle you in. Also - any role over there at this level ought to include private medical, 401k entitlement, short/long term disability and potentially a flight back to the UK once a year. It may also include support on US tax returns which you will need to do, albeit which can be quite simple if you only have earned income.
I never regretted a single minute of my time there and still miss it! Happy to answer any further queries via PM if needed.
Craig.
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