> Actual monetary compensation is decent ... After you take into account the much higher cost of living in the places you mention, it remains hard to save much

> Actual monetary compensation is decent ... After you take into account the much higher cost of living in the places you mention, it remains hard to save much. For example for an excellent job in London it was the choice to live centrally and enjoy the experience, or to commute several hours a day and be able to save for the future. Besides the hours are long so you end up living it up far less than you expect.