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There is a middle ground, and that is embodied by the cities of Portland and Austin. Cost of living is ridiculously cheap compared to the tech hubs, there is a

There is a middle ground, and that is embodied by the cities of Portland and Austin. Cost of living is ridiculously cheap compared to the tech hubs, there is a burgeoning startup culture, and the salary that lets you afford a 500 sqft apartment within public transport range of the office in SF/NYC gets you a house and a yard within biking distance. There is also the strategy of saving your SF/NYC salary while living in comparative squalor, then retiring early in a cheap place that you love. I picked the first option, as I value roots, family, and home life more than a glitzy software career. You couldn't pay me enough to move.

nilkn 14y ago
I live in Houston and my first year compensation out of college was about $83k. That was really good considering that my peers who stayed in Houston got around $60k it seems. Anyway, even I could not afford to get a house with a yard in the city center ("within biking distance"). At least, not any sort of decent home that one would want to live in. A nice 1br apartment in the city center (nice = safe, clean, updated appliances, washer/dryer in the unit, etc.) is also going to cost $1k/month minimum--anything less and you'll be giving up safety, comfort, or proximity. Of course, that's a far cry from SV, but it's still far from ridiculously cheap as well. As for a house out in a suburb? Absolutely. Minus the downpayment, I could have afforded a decent one right out of college. But those houses come with a minimum of a 30 minute commute, one way, by car. I was always under the impression that Houston was actually cheaper than Austin, but perhaps I'm wrong.
- derefr 14y ago
  > But those houses come with a minimum of a 30 minute commute, one way, by car. Remember, we're in the middle of a discussion about telecommuting. If you don't actually "commute", it's not that bad. :)

nilkn 14y ago

I live in Houston and my first year compensation out of college was about $83k. That was really good considering that my peers who stayed in Houston got around $60k it seems. Anyway, even I could not afford to get a house with a yard in the city center ("within biking distance"). At least, not any sort of decent home that one would want to live in. A nice 1br apartment in the city center (nice = safe, clean, updated appliances, washer/dryer in the unit, etc.) is also going to cost $1k/month minimum--anything less and you'll be giving up safety, comfort, or proximity. Of course, that's a far cry from SV, but it's still far from ridiculously cheap as well. As for a house out in a suburb? Absolutely. Minus the downpayment, I could have afforded a decent one right out of college. But those houses come with a minimum of a 30 minute commute, one way, by car. I was always under the impression that Houston was actually cheaper than Austin, but perhaps I'm wrong.

derefr 14y ago
> But those houses come with a minimum of a 30 minute commute, one way, by car. Remember, we're in the middle of a discussion about telecommuting. If you don't actually "commute", it's not that bad. :)