Living where your family and friends live and being able to meet them in person on daily/weekly basis is of a high value. Unfortunately the most of us recognize

Living where your family and friends live and being able to meet them in person on daily/weekly basis is of a high value. Unfortunately the most of us recognize this only after moving to a far away city or country. Leaving home and taking a job in the "most expensive city in the country ... 2,500 miles away from your family" is a lot like a job on an oil rig or as a mercenary. You need the right mindset and motivation. Wanting to "not to fuck up" or to "make mommy and daddy proud of you" or just to "work on a great product" might be fine but in a lot of cases it ends up in burn-out. If you are tough enough and want to make a kill (saving up the fuck-you-money within 5 years and doing after that whatever you want) than set your price and go for it. If you are not tough enough but you want to make a kill than find the best people of the industy, learn from them, set your price and go for it. Otherwise staying next to your family and friends might be the best option on the long run.