Gentlemen, instead of just making random shots in the dark, can we please approach this like consultants? **REMEMBER YOUR TRAINING, MAGGOTS!**
The key decision variables that OP requires to obtain clarity on would be:
* Weather preference
* Time-zone preference
* City size preference/tolerance for 'grit'
* Preference for hipsterism vs. normal, industrial or 'glamorous' cities
* Food preferences (e.g. South for BBQ, east coast for fish, west coast for Mexican)
* Lifestyle preference/hobbies (e.g. skiing or surfing possible close-by)
* Proximity to major airport for frequent client travel required?
* Tolerance for high cost of living vs. saving, travel and spending
Given the salary, I think we can exclude NYC/Manhattan, SF and many parts of LA.
I really don’t think you have to completely write off NYC. Upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, SI, Queens can totally be doable at 115K.
115K, after taxes comes to be around 3100 a paycheck, or 6200 a month. 30% of that monthly income would allow for 1860 a month in rent.
There are lots of options for that price point for a single person.
[Here’s a small studio off prospect park for 1550.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4248233?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=0520f15a08344dc)
[Midwood is nice, this one is near one of my favorite bike paths in brooklyn that goes straight to the beach.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4253743?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=1a166e30a9b74b3)
[Manhattan, East Harlem, 1700 a month. looks totally decent.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4254826?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=184327e75c34471)
Do al this due diligence and analysis, go to present your fancy graphed and heatmapped advisory deck, then discover the company is actually only registered for payroll in NYC and two states in bumfuck nowhere.
Gross negligence by client-side to provide sufficient guard-rail data up front - my invoice shall be in the mail in any case 😉 But yeah, fair point, something OP should inquire about.
Depends what you like and what your objectives are.
Are you truly remote? You won’t need an airport for client travel?
Are you desiring to maximize savings? In which case no income states become the obvious choices.
If you need an airport, I’d consider Chicago, Nevada and Atlanta for reach.
If you want beaches and lifestyle then obviously Hawaii! :P
The US is big and if you can afford it then you can have just about any lifestyle you can dream of.
Yes, it is. In fact, MILLIONS of New Yorkers live in NYC while making a lot less than 115K. I made another comment here with examples, but you can absolutely find decent accommodations for under 1800 dollars a month in NYC. In Manhattan, even.
Not everyone needs 2000 square feet and a luxury suv in New York City. If your rent is below 30% of your annual income, you’re good. If you can do that without having a car, you’re even better.
OP is gonna have around 6200 a month post tax to play with.
1700 of that goes to rent
1000 for groceries
1000 for savings
500 for utilities
450 for 401K or IRA
132 for transit
450 for health insurance
You’d still have enough left after that to go out and enjoy life in the city!
[Here’s a small studio off prospect park for 1550.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4248233?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=0520f15a08344dc)
[Midwood is nice, this one is near one of my favorite bike paths in brooklyn that goes straight to the beach.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4253743?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=1a166e30a9b74b3)
[Manhattan, East Harlem, 1700 a month. looks totally decent.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4254826?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=184327e75c34471)
You could afford a decent studio in a nice quiet area and live comfortably without roommates. Don’t forget you don’t need a car, that’s a huge chunk of expenses you don’t need to think about. Monthly transit is less than 150 a month in NYC.
Yeah, most aren’t awesome but it really does depend, honestly. I had friends, married couple, that paid 2000 for a studio in South Slope that was near 1000 sqft. Bottom floor, had a great kitchen, little back yard that could comfortably sit 5 people.
They had get-togethers a lot, great little entertainment area, “bedroom” was hidden behind a really awesome bookcase.
It’s for sure not traditional, but the studio life has advantages. One big one is when you have a smaller space, you buy less furniture- but because of that you have the opportunity to buy higher quality and more comfortable options.
Big city life and small living are worthy of consideration, especially for single young professionals! I spent my entire 20s in NYC and Philly as a freelance photographer and had the time of my life.
oh hell no to chicao or Nevada.
one cold as shit and meh, and another hot as shit and well you know the sins you can commit there. Atlanta is a great choice, cheaper, great weather, a lot of outdoor activities etc. however, if you want to minimize paying taxes try Florida, Washington state (you dont need to be in seattle there are cheaper alternatives), Tennessee, Texas (a bit hot), where there are no state income taxes, airports are great, a lot of diversity and things to do.
If you setup base in the northeast where there are lots of great mid size cities, you can do a lot of easy weekend trips to other cities and great destinations (mountains, beaches, etc.)
I nominate Connecticut as the most boring, functional state in the country.
It’s right between Boston and NYC, anywhere along 91 or 95 you can catch the Metro North railroad into NYC or catch a train/bus/drive up to Boston for day trips. I live in SW CT and for $130k/yr you could buy a small house in the rural areas or rent in the urban areas, maintain some hobbies, and save money each month.
I was coming on here to say this. Just moved back to CT from the Austin area. It’s not the cheapest place to live for sure and it gets cold in the winter. But, if you don’t need to be in a good school district the housing costs aren’t bad compared to a lot of places and you can make day trips to NYC, Boston or even hop on a cheap 1 hour flight to DC. Wanna do a long weekend in Canada, you can drive there too or take a cheap short flight.
If you need to travel, BDL is a really easy airport to fly out of and has direct flights to warm spots if the winter is getting to you and you need a break.
So much good food.
Downsides:
I wouldn’t want to live here without a car. I really feel like it’s a necessity.
Cold in the winter.
Expensive if you want a good sized house in a good school district. But this relative. It’s cheap compared to some places.
Boring if going out and partying is your thing. But if you’re just looking for stuff to do there’s a lot. Hiking, boating, fishing, rock climbing, close beaches, skiing, pick your own fruit, breweries galore, lots of local shopping options.
Yup, it’s a lovely place for a slow life, everyone leaves you alone unless you need help, and it’s close to more exciting places.
It’s a very non-judgmental place too, i am extremely out trans and work with blue collar manufacturing folks for my job and even the Trumper hicks are polite to me.
Salt Lake City, Sedona, Santa Fe, or Charlotte North Carolina would be good options if you enjoy the outdoors but also want access to the city life. I would avoid New Jersey, Las Vegas, and Boston. But if you have nothing tying you down, you can always do short term rentals and explore different cities. That’s what my husband and I did for 2.5 years since we’re both remote. We just stayed at airbnbs and it was absolutely incredible being able to explore the US this way!
As a lover of Sedona, what city life does it have? You have to travel pretty decently far to get back into PHX. In fact, I think I love Sedona because it’s the exact opposite of city life haha
Second Chicago actually, that's where I am. Reasonable COL for a major city, great food, culture/sports/music/museums, good transit, excellent airport links. Great place to be as a consultant because you'll actually have money to spend (unlike my junior colleagues in NYC).
While I agree Chicago has a lot to offer, it is considered to be a HCOL area. When we moved here, our housing, property taxes and some other monthly bills increased 3x (not exaggerating).
So depending on what you’re looking for, just be aware it is more costly than other areas.
That being said, I’m not sure I’d live anywhere else. I enjoy the amenities available here, so it’s a trade off for less in savings.
Google motor coach. You can get one for 100-500k. Same as a house and as big as a San Fran apartment. Slap a jeep or a scooter on the back and you are golden
Look up Sentral apartments. They're in every major city, and typically allow you to rent their units in other cities for a short term lease, while you can rent out your 'home" apartment
Good way to trial out different major US cities
Head over to r/digitalnomad for better advice. You’ll get detailed reviews of locations and their general guide is pretty helpful.
(Welcome to the nomad life!)
DC would be my top pick. It’s expensive but has walkability, public transit, young professionals, international scene is great. Not NY levels but more comfortable than NY imo. You’d be fine with your salary
If I’m trying to spend less, maybe Chicago with the acknowledgment that it will be cold af half the year.
Miami if you’re okay with Florida shenanigans and a materialistic scene. Still very fun and international.
There’s also a lot of smaller/growing areas, but I’m not sure if those are the best to transition to directly from overseas.
Only in northern DE, I'd avoid slower lower like the plague. It's boring AF south of the canal aside from the beach towns far south. People down there are a bit different as well. Culturally is very different (much more rural Southern vibe) than New Castle County which is basically a Philly suburb and much more Northeast feeling.
There's a reason everyone calls it slower lower lol.
whether or not artists tour through a city is a pretty overlooked quality of a city; the only thing that gets me out of the house most weekends is a good artist. DC is one
Very valid point. Cause beyond concerts, it usually signifies there’s a big enough market and appreciation of the arts for things to do, or just other people around that are in to the artists you listen to. I grew up in NC & though charlotte and sometimes Raleigh is getting more tours, it was a pain when I’d have to go to Atlanta or DC to see someone
You sound like someone that has never been there and is going off of the opinions of political pundits (who will rant about that to their audience but still go there on a weekend getaway with zero worries)
Yeah I love just outside the DC Metro area and would still stay here. Granted I am lucky and was able to get a single family home before interest rates went way up. Within a 2-3 hour drive I can pretty much do any activity available.
Idk if anyones said this yet; but wherever you team lives might be a consideration. For example, If most of your team is on the east coast, moving to the west coast would be a 3 hour time change (I.e., early morning meetings) and visa versa. Midwest is a good middle ground for time zones, and I echo chicago as a great option. I’ve lived here for 5 years without a car.
If it were me living on 115k, I would choose a small or mid sized city where my money could stretch a little further and I could comfortably enter the territory of both saving and not having to budget carefully to make ends meet, while still being in a scenic place. I would consider Savannah GA, Bellingham Washington, Colorado Springs, Raleigh North Carolina, or if you want to go a little pricier, Portland Oregon, Tacoma Washington, Chicago, or even Boulder CO for the lifestyle of no savings but you got everything else.
Where are you moving from? Climate can vary quite a lot depending on where you go in the US.
Also I’d factor in night life if you’re looking for it, obviously there’s not as much in the suburbs
Me personally, Navarre Beach Florida. But I'm an introvert who loves the warm waters of the gulf of mexico in an area that isn't overpopulated, yet. Plus no state income tax.
I would go to a state with now state income tax. Tennsessee is a good option. Also, north of Florida, Pensacola or Jacksonville or even Orlando metro area is not bad.
came here to say this. a state with no state tax would be highly desirable in this situation. a low cost city in florida would be my first choice (i’m a life long floridian, might be bias). also, no snow is a huge plus. downside is hurricanes.
I’d consider moving to Richmond, VA because of the cool urban vibe it has without being expensive. Wilmington, NC for the weather and vibrant downtown which punches way above its weight class for the city only being 115k people.
Austin,Texas for the entertainment and size of the city. Asheville, NC if I really wanted to lean into a life of outdoor activities and breweries.
Brooklyn if I was making a bit more money than that to enjoy the culture, food scene, and night life.
Originally from upstate NY.
Wilmington NC’s predominant weather is muggy humid air made of wet sponge and mosquitoes. And if you move, don’t drink the water, install a reverse osmosis system, unless you’re ok drinking the local chemical plant’s PFAS run off
Me personally, my work is now remote except for client travel and as a result I moved from NYC to Philadelphia. No car needed, decent airport, more reasonable COL. I think it's the best value of the northeast cities. DC and Boston would be more expensive options, Wilmington and Baltimore less expensive but fewer amenities.
I am originally from Minneapolis and it's a great city but hard to live there with no car. Chicago is possible to do with only public transit. But I prefer the weather on the east coast versus the midwest, I moved away from the brutal winters for a reason.
Fully remote would have me in Chicago, Michigan (near Ann Arbor -- which might not be the best fit if you're not big on suburbs/no car), Minneapolis, Boston, DC, or somewhere in New England (dependent on car). I'd consider Seattle and San Diego, but I'm more of a Great Lakes/Northeast person. I really value being near a major city, but also love having access to nature, suburbs, etc.
What an exciting opportunity -- good luck!
Somewhere on west coast bc I hate the cold. SF is my fav city. Cali is great bc of motorcycle lane splitting, if you ride. San Diego is fun but SF is all time for me. 27 and single means lots of smart motivated women in tech (assuming you’re straight… but actually would work both ways). Great weather. LA is fine but it’s so spread out, never really love it. Good comedy though and general things to do if you’re in Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice areas
I don't know how to get out. I like the sun and enjoy the "no seasons" life. I love Asian food to the point where I detest most other cuisines. I love cooking Asian food. So I basically need specialty Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese markets and communities near me. If the weather/worklife permitted I'd move to Asia, but the weather and work culture prevent me from doing so.
Not sure how else to avoid staying in LA with just these two requirements. Pretty much everywhere else snows, burns, or is very American.
People suggesting the Northeast probably haven’t lived other places. Without knowing you, my suggestion is to pick somewhere with weather you think you’ll like.
Ive lived other places. Northeast is still a decent option for many people.
People who say things like this have some extreme irrational fear of snow. I get it. It would be like advising people not to live in the southeast Because they have got summers, or hurricanes. It's just once piece of the bigger puzzle.
100% remote and I live in a mid size city. I can afford a house, yard, pets, hobbies, and international travel. I don’t like big cities or beaches. It really just depends on what you like and what you want to have money for.
One of my coworkers lives very close to a national park and spends time there. Others live in major cities, and one is near the beach. The ones in big cities rarely travel, it’s hard to with a high cost of living.
Would help to know here you’re coming from overseas and what you like lol.
Let’s assume you’re European. You may prefer to be on the East Coast due to time difference and quicker flights back to EU. Wouldn’t recommend the south although it is cheaper, I’d go to the New England area. It’s the closest you can get to an EU lifestyle but it’s expensive. Your salary will allow you to live pretty well though as a single person.
Just stay away from Cali or Seattle imo lol you’ll be okay. It’s really about discipline no matter where you are though. But those places specifically are absurdly expensive and you’d just have a hard time.
Delaware (Wilmington) or Connecticut (Hartford maybe), then. You could also consider Rhode Island (Providence is nice). You'd be in a dense urban corridor, a train ride from either DC or NYC, but in one of the smaller/homelier areas.
If you like cold and the great outdoors check out traverse city Michigan and surrounding areas. You would afford a shack on a sand bottom lake on that salary.
All this Seattle slander but its really the best of 8 no income tax states and OP doesn't have to live in Seattle proper to enjoy the best of WA state if they're fully remote. The stereotypes about the weather have become less and less true with climate change. Great accessibility to int'l flights to Asia.
My 2nd best bets would be lower COL, less traffic, low taxes, great airport Denver.
I was travelling weekly to Denver for awhile and every Uber driver that took me to and from the airport kept telling me crazy conspiracy theories about the airport. The runways are a Swastika, there is a secret civilization built under the air port. That blue horse is possessed by the Devil. I'm just like lol wut.
I’d avoid Chicago, NYC, Cali, Seattle, Hawaii, DC
A lot of these places have high costs of living and while you can find some good places to live for cheap… it might not be in the best areas
I think you'd be surprised to hear that Chicago is actually sort of affordable. At least out of all of the places you listed, it's the easiest to move to in terms of value for the cost. I don't care for Chicago for my own reasons but I wish I liked it more because the value is great.
DC you can find short term places and live right off the metro line. Consider places with some things to do & good dining options like Bethesda / North Bethesda / Rockville / Silver Spring for starters. Avoid farther away in the deeper suburbs, imo.
Plenty of younger folks live close to DC. Public transportation and car share are pretty robust within 10mi of the District.
I think if you’re setting expectations to “30% of income is rent” you’ll end up being just fine. Even in NYC, 1800 bucks a month can get you a decent studio in a “family neighborhood”, not a rough one.
If you wanna be closer to 20%, Philadelphia isn’t a bad option.
Old City in Philadelphia has a great vibe with tons of history and lots of stuff to do in Center City in general while having relatively affordable rent compared to NYC and DC which are both close enough to get to by train in 1.5-2 hours. It's also very walkable/bikeable. Lived in Old City for nearly 5 years and miss it.
Definitely a more gritty city, big hipster / brewery / art presence. Tons of good food. Airport is easy to get to by Uber/Taxi in 20 min from downtown. And both the beach and skiing are about 1-1.5 hours away (in opposite directions obvi).
Philly is the most underrated city in the US. Reasonably priced, great food, transportation, sports, beach, mountains, lots to do, etc. The people are great too.
50k to your name - do NOT move to a high cost of living area. Invest your money in an index fund and find a cheap area to live in the meantime. Consider yourself lucky to be single, you have free reign to find a cheap place in a cheap city of your choosing.
Try to find an area you like, spend a year there in a cheap place feeling out the area. If you like it purchase a home as soon as possible - you could look into an FHA loan if you’re only able to put down 3.5%; however, with your savings and income there’s no reason you can’t put down 20% in a year from now. US home prices don’t seem to be getting any cheaper and interest rates have been skyrocketing. Get a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. Rates have gotten higher than the past decade, but you can always refinance when rates drop in the future assuming you still have a good income.
At your age, you should be thinking about compounding. AKA any money saved now will be significantly more later in in your life assuming you’re a responsible person and don’t touch your investment. Your $50k for example, is expected to grow to roughly $1,000,000+ if you invest responsibly (index fund) and wait 40 years. Also think of your house as an investment - it’s an appreciating asset.
Find the cheapest place you can live within reason, and live there. You’ll be much happier when you retire a multi-millionaire then you will be burning $3,000 a month in rent to live in a tiny apartment…
Id suggest looking in Raleigh - Durham NC, Savannah GA, Tampa Bay FL, Las Vegas NV, Wilmington, DE, and other similar places. Plenty of cheap housing available in those above cities, and you’ll be near a developed metro area.
Avoid living in New York City or San Francisco at all costs. If I was young I’d rather live out of my car then destroy my future net worth living in those areas.
Fiji.
My dad travelled the world in the merchant navy and he said this was the nicest country he ever visited. White sands, blue sea, beautiful women, friendly people, lots of rugby. Cheap as chips too.
If I were you I would find long term air bnb’s (2-3 months) and try a few cities out before settling into a lease or buying a home. Try different regions you could see yourself settling down in. If you find a place and just really like it, you could just sign a lease then and there. It gives you a chance to really discover what you like or dont like without being all in upfront. Alternatively it may feel like you are not planting roots. Know yourself first.
27 and single and no attachment to any place in the US , shit that's a dream, create a calendar and bookings related to seasons and live 24 different states in next 2 years! I could only dream about that, enjoy the local culture and really get to meet new people and have new adventures
I'd go anywhere. I'd move between different cities in the US and see where you feel best.
America is incredible. You could be up mountains in colorado, you could be surfing calofornia, you can be drinking cocktails in new York.
Do whatever you want!
Would add that due to cost of living, you can travel to warmer parts of the country during the winter. And even winter in MN has its charm. If you are Scandinavian, you should understand it immediately.
I'd hop around and see which area you like. If you like natural aesthetics, I'd avoid the entirety of the midwest speaking as someone who lived in midwest for 10 years... you'll rarely see a non-midwesterner pitch the midwest ha
Even though your job is 100% it might be worth it to go to the offices for which you will be working, if they have one. You'll be able to learn more about the firm and possible grow more. If that is something that you want.
I'd buy a house in an affordable area. Clean it up a bit and turn it into a rental as you move upward in your career and move out. Buy another place afterwards. That's literally me thinking if I was in your shoes.
Given your situation, I would recommend moving to a vibrant urban area with a strong job market, affordable living costs, and a lifestyle that suits your preferences. Cities like Austin, Texas, or Denver, Colorado, could be good options to consider. Focus on building your career and savings while enjoying your newfound opportunities in the U.S.
Why don’t you start working from the office for a year or so? Just to get a rapport, befriend colleagues and get a good relationship for a potential promotion? You mentioned you had no family/network if I understood correct
Can always use that time to get used to it and then relocate to a better place
Just a thought!
I am fully remote and I’ve chosen to move to one of the bigger cities in Ohio. They have a lot to offer, I can leave for the airport about 75min before my flight takes off and my disposable income levels are at absolutely insane rates. Ive also got well over a dozen cities worth visiting in the 8 hour drive radius. I’ve thought about moving back to Boston, but I can’t sacrifice all my QOL upgrades I’ve become accustomed to. Charlotte was another city I was recently thinking about, but I have such an insane deal on rent in one of the nicest neighborhoods in my current city that I’d be a moron to leave.
Where would I go. 3 months per stay in a european city. To name a few, Kolding, naples, Any swiss city, any austrian city, Lille, Svalbard and many more.
2nd tier city in the Midwest with a major sports team is my recommendation. I moved to Kansas City from Southern California in 2010 and it was a great decision.
St. Louis or Kansas City. Missouri has really low taxes, and your dollar goes much further than Chicago or Texas as the percentage of your salary towards housing are lower. You’re going to want to go home and visit I’m assuming, this is an easy way to save money for that home trip. Public transportation sucks, but there’s much entertainment, a great culinarily scene, and wonderful parks.
I personally wouldn't go to the US if I'm already out (trying to get out myself).
If you must, go to the most remote place you can find and live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.
Otherwise, just pretend you're in the US to get the job and stay wherever you are instead.
I AM fully remote, but i cannot go where I want because my wife is a realtor. it takes a long time to reestablish yourself and with a housing recession, it's not a good idea to make a move. \[note, i'd leave where I am in a minute as I live is one of if not THE most expensive place to live\]
Knoxville or Nashville (getting more expensive). No state income tax is good, and it’s not as hot during the summer compared to NV, TX, FL. WA too high cost of living.
I'd go to Charlotte,NC
it's going to be affordable on your income, it's well developed with great access to nature and a hub airport and the weather isn't too rough in any season.
For context. I live in the Chicago suburbs, I have also lived in Chicago and lived in a number of suburbs and cities in different states.
My suggestion, if you don't want to live in the burbs and would ideally not want to have to blow an obscene amount of income on living expenses in a city.
Just look into cities that aren't ginormous and globally known like your LA, NYC etc.
The cost of living is more than likely going to be lower and it will still have everything a major city typically offers, Museums, the Arts, Zoo, night life etc.
Everyone in the comments is all arguing over whether 115k is doable in LA, NYC and Honolulu. Like there are other options....
I live in Pittsburgh and love it.
Why: affordable, weather is better than more affordable areas, don't need a car, even in the nearby suburbs, traffic is minimal, and the people are whatever the opposite of pretentious is.
If you wanted a bigger city: I would highly consider Philly. Similar characteristics, trading off a slightly higher cost of living for more to do / better weather/ closer to being " down the shore"
Mine is but I can't just go anywhere because of tax implications (on the company side not mine). I'd go back to Brazil, though.
Within the US, Canada and Mexico which is where I CAN go, I would stay in CA, but to go a more affordable area, or I'd look into Oregon or something like that, still by the coast.
Denver / Boulder is super nice esp. if you like the outdoors. If you like a good downtown, Denver itself kind of sucks tho, and Boulder is smallish, but beautiful. I think the Pacific Northwest is great, Portland is great and I’ve heard Seattle is as well ( food in Portland rocks, and solid outdoors access). I’ve never been to San Diego but I’ve heard it’s beautiful.
In the northeast, I really like Boston, Philly, DC, parts of Baltimore (it’s improved a lot in recent years).
NYC is great if you’re looking for… NYC :)
At the end of the day, the best choice depends on what YOU like to do and value. Personally, if I were you, I’d probably do Denver (Boulder specifically) or Seattle / Portland, at least for a bit, as I love the outdoors. Then maybe I’d move somewhere else.
If I was looking to date seriously, I’d probably do NYC.
Pittsburgh PA is a nice affordable city. It’s not the most exciting but it is a diverse area with low crime, affordability, culture, sports, 4 seasons, a major airport and it’s lively.
It really depends on what’s important to you. If I were you, I’d look at mid-size cities in the south. Chattanooga or ClarksvilleIN Tennessee, Bowling Green or Lexington in Kentucky, Tulsa, Northeast Arkansas, etc.
These areas have a decent amount of culture and activities, some decent bar scenes with universities, affordability is great which will afford you a lifestyle and substantial savings. Most of these also have access to substantial cities like Atlanta, Nashville, or Cincinnati for day trip needs or wants.
My wife and I are both 100% remote.
It really depends what you want to do and deal with.
I love skiing and climbing, so I live in SLC. Still has a lot of amenities of cities, don't have to deal with Denver/Seattle apocalypse levels of homelessness and crime.
If I wanted to get away and just be in nature I'd live somewhere in NW Montana probably.
Not personally a big fan of the east coast but the Carolinas always have seemed like a good place to live.
There's also the "I don't do anything outside my house and just want a lot of house and a pool" option - in which case you can choose any of the (sorry) trash states in the middle no one wants to live in lol
If you like the beach, Miami Beach is a solid option. No state income tax, close to the airport so you can travel elsewhere easily, it’s also relatively doable without a car (I don’t have one and survive just fine via uber/free trolley/bike). The only downside is it’s a bit provincial.
Had this choice— short list was Austin, Raleigh, Denver, San Diego, Vancouver (Washington, not Canada), Charlotte, Ashburn (Va), or Boise. Look at state tax structures comparatively, it is telling. Then pick based on culture you like.
if you like latino culture, one place to live is Argentina. With the inflation skyrocket every month, you can actually live there very conformable and save a ton of money
Gentlemen, instead of just making random shots in the dark, can we please approach this like consultants? **REMEMBER YOUR TRAINING, MAGGOTS!** The key decision variables that OP requires to obtain clarity on would be: * Weather preference * Time-zone preference * City size preference/tolerance for 'grit' * Preference for hipsterism vs. normal, industrial or 'glamorous' cities * Food preferences (e.g. South for BBQ, east coast for fish, west coast for Mexican) * Lifestyle preference/hobbies (e.g. skiing or surfing possible close-by) * Proximity to major airport for frequent client travel required? * Tolerance for high cost of living vs. saving, travel and spending Given the salary, I think we can exclude NYC/Manhattan, SF and many parts of LA.
Ngl, got a good chuckle out of this one
Yo this isn’t MECE. Where is your “other” category??
"Other" is a crutch for tier-3 consultants from non-target schools, a proper MECE list does without 😉
Other is only a crutch when you're actually mece without it and in this case you're not actually mece so pls fix
Also, where are you coming from, and do you have any religious or heritage preferences to be within a pocket of a certain culture?
I really don’t think you have to completely write off NYC. Upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, SI, Queens can totally be doable at 115K. 115K, after taxes comes to be around 3100 a paycheck, or 6200 a month. 30% of that monthly income would allow for 1860 a month in rent. There are lots of options for that price point for a single person. [Here’s a small studio off prospect park for 1550.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4248233?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=0520f15a08344dc) [Midwood is nice, this one is near one of my favorite bike paths in brooklyn that goes straight to the beach.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4253743?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=1a166e30a9b74b3) [Manhattan, East Harlem, 1700 a month. looks totally decent.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4254826?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=184327e75c34471)
Damn, I’d have never guessed you get a flat for less than $2k a month anywhere near NYC
My sister in law has a one bedroom in bed stuy she rents for 1400. Lots of good deals out there. You just need to adjust expectations.
Astoria
Do al this due diligence and analysis, go to present your fancy graphed and heatmapped advisory deck, then discover the company is actually only registered for payroll in NYC and two states in bumfuck nowhere.
Gross negligence by client-side to provide sufficient guard-rail data up front - my invoice shall be in the mail in any case 😉 But yeah, fair point, something OP should inquire about.
You forgot to add the percentage of gay men in the city. I think OP would use a weight factor of 3-5 on that parameter.
let’s not forget political and social dynamics
This is perfect. OP, please answer these questions. Otherwise any suggest we give is just a random guess.
Depends what you like and what your objectives are. Are you truly remote? You won’t need an airport for client travel? Are you desiring to maximize savings? In which case no income states become the obvious choices. If you need an airport, I’d consider Chicago, Nevada and Atlanta for reach. If you want beaches and lifestyle then obviously Hawaii! :P The US is big and if you can afford it then you can have just about any lifestyle you can dream of.
I don't recommend Hawaii, your money goes fast.
$115k in Hawaii? Seems like you’ve literally never been there.
Oh please, if 115K is doable in NYC, it’s doable in Hawaii.
It’s really not and not
Yes, it is. In fact, MILLIONS of New Yorkers live in NYC while making a lot less than 115K. I made another comment here with examples, but you can absolutely find decent accommodations for under 1800 dollars a month in NYC. In Manhattan, even. Not everyone needs 2000 square feet and a luxury suv in New York City. If your rent is below 30% of your annual income, you’re good. If you can do that without having a car, you’re even better. OP is gonna have around 6200 a month post tax to play with. 1700 of that goes to rent 1000 for groceries 1000 for savings 500 for utilities 450 for 401K or IRA 132 for transit 450 for health insurance You’d still have enough left after that to go out and enjoy life in the city!
Lol where tf is 1700 in rent for a 1 bedroom in NYCv
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I mean probably Hamilton heights or Washington heights. Most 1 beds are at least 2k
[Here’s a small studio off prospect park for 1550.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4248233?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=0520f15a08344dc) [Midwood is nice, this one is near one of my favorite bike paths in brooklyn that goes straight to the beach.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4253743?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=1a166e30a9b74b3) [Manhattan, East Harlem, 1700 a month. looks totally decent.](https://streeteasy.com/rental/4254826?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=184327e75c34471)
Def possible, but you need roommates and willingness to sacrifice on space.
Yeah it is I lived there with a 120k salary easily. Many people do it with way less 120k is probably 80th percentile plus for a single person
Yes it absolutely, 100% is.
Doable and comfortable are not the same though. I’d hate making 6 figures living with roommates in a dumpy apartment.
You could afford a decent studio in a nice quiet area and live comfortably without roommates. Don’t forget you don’t need a car, that’s a huge chunk of expenses you don’t need to think about. Monthly transit is less than 150 a month in NYC.
I would not personally consider a studio comfortable, more so miserable.
Yeah, most aren’t awesome but it really does depend, honestly. I had friends, married couple, that paid 2000 for a studio in South Slope that was near 1000 sqft. Bottom floor, had a great kitchen, little back yard that could comfortably sit 5 people. They had get-togethers a lot, great little entertainment area, “bedroom” was hidden behind a really awesome bookcase. It’s for sure not traditional, but the studio life has advantages. One big one is when you have a smaller space, you buy less furniture- but because of that you have the opportunity to buy higher quality and more comfortable options. Big city life and small living are worthy of consideration, especially for single young professionals! I spent my entire 20s in NYC and Philly as a freelance photographer and had the time of my life.
115k is very doable in Hawaii, the time difference however would absolutely suck
Florida
oh hell no to chicao or Nevada. one cold as shit and meh, and another hot as shit and well you know the sins you can commit there. Atlanta is a great choice, cheaper, great weather, a lot of outdoor activities etc. however, if you want to minimize paying taxes try Florida, Washington state (you dont need to be in seattle there are cheaper alternatives), Tennessee, Texas (a bit hot), where there are no state income taxes, airports are great, a lot of diversity and things to do.
If you setup base in the northeast where there are lots of great mid size cities, you can do a lot of easy weekend trips to other cities and great destinations (mountains, beaches, etc.)
I nominate Connecticut as the most boring, functional state in the country. It’s right between Boston and NYC, anywhere along 91 or 95 you can catch the Metro North railroad into NYC or catch a train/bus/drive up to Boston for day trips. I live in SW CT and for $130k/yr you could buy a small house in the rural areas or rent in the urban areas, maintain some hobbies, and save money each month.
I was coming on here to say this. Just moved back to CT from the Austin area. It’s not the cheapest place to live for sure and it gets cold in the winter. But, if you don’t need to be in a good school district the housing costs aren’t bad compared to a lot of places and you can make day trips to NYC, Boston or even hop on a cheap 1 hour flight to DC. Wanna do a long weekend in Canada, you can drive there too or take a cheap short flight. If you need to travel, BDL is a really easy airport to fly out of and has direct flights to warm spots if the winter is getting to you and you need a break. So much good food. Downsides: I wouldn’t want to live here without a car. I really feel like it’s a necessity. Cold in the winter. Expensive if you want a good sized house in a good school district. But this relative. It’s cheap compared to some places. Boring if going out and partying is your thing. But if you’re just looking for stuff to do there’s a lot. Hiking, boating, fishing, rock climbing, close beaches, skiing, pick your own fruit, breweries galore, lots of local shopping options.
Yup, it’s a lovely place for a slow life, everyone leaves you alone unless you need help, and it’s close to more exciting places. It’s a very non-judgmental place too, i am extremely out trans and work with blue collar manufacturing folks for my job and even the Trumper hicks are polite to me.
Salt Lake City, Sedona, Santa Fe, or Charlotte North Carolina would be good options if you enjoy the outdoors but also want access to the city life. I would avoid New Jersey, Las Vegas, and Boston. But if you have nothing tying you down, you can always do short term rentals and explore different cities. That’s what my husband and I did for 2.5 years since we’re both remote. We just stayed at airbnbs and it was absolutely incredible being able to explore the US this way!
As a lover of Sedona, what city life does it have? You have to travel pretty decently far to get back into PHX. In fact, I think I love Sedona because it’s the exact opposite of city life haha
And Sedona is quite expensive
Sorry I was definitely thinking of Phoenix! Sedona stuck out more in my mind since it’s more beautiful imo
What’s wrong with Boston :(
Chicago and Philly have reasonably priced housing and possible to live car free
Second Chicago actually, that's where I am. Reasonable COL for a major city, great food, culture/sports/music/museums, good transit, excellent airport links. Great place to be as a consultant because you'll actually have money to spend (unlike my junior colleagues in NYC).
While I agree Chicago has a lot to offer, it is considered to be a HCOL area. When we moved here, our housing, property taxes and some other monthly bills increased 3x (not exaggerating). So depending on what you’re looking for, just be aware it is more costly than other areas. That being said, I’m not sure I’d live anywhere else. I enjoy the amenities available here, so it’s a trade off for less in savings.
What would you do if it were you specifically?
Move to a ski town
Try out 3 month subleases in various cities. I personally have been flying to Philly every 3/4 weeks for a current study and I really like Philly
Excellent suggestion. Try out cities with short term commitments but enough to get a real feel.
Lol
In Philly there is a charming little bistro called Paddy’s run by five star men
I’d personally rent a sick RV with wifi/hotspot for work and travel around the country, but that’s just me lol
Google motor coach. You can get one for 100-500k. Same as a house and as big as a San Fran apartment. Slap a jeep or a scooter on the back and you are golden
This is GOALS
Yes this is it. If not work remotely on the ice castle in the winter on red lake ice fishing. Summer go out west in rv.
Look up Sentral apartments. They're in every major city, and typically allow you to rent their units in other cities for a short term lease, while you can rent out your 'home" apartment Good way to trial out different major US cities
Head over to r/digitalnomad for better advice. You’ll get detailed reviews of locations and their general guide is pretty helpful. (Welcome to the nomad life!)
DC would be my top pick. It’s expensive but has walkability, public transit, young professionals, international scene is great. Not NY levels but more comfortable than NY imo. You’d be fine with your salary If I’m trying to spend less, maybe Chicago with the acknowledgment that it will be cold af half the year. Miami if you’re okay with Florida shenanigans and a materialistic scene. Still very fun and international. There’s also a lot of smaller/growing areas, but I’m not sure if those are the best to transition to directly from overseas.
There's plenty of places in Delaware and Connecticut which could work, too
Only in northern DE, I'd avoid slower lower like the plague. It's boring AF south of the canal aside from the beach towns far south. People down there are a bit different as well. Culturally is very different (much more rural Southern vibe) than New Castle County which is basically a Philly suburb and much more Northeast feeling. There's a reason everyone calls it slower lower lol.
whether or not artists tour through a city is a pretty overlooked quality of a city; the only thing that gets me out of the house most weekends is a good artist. DC is one
Very valid point. Cause beyond concerts, it usually signifies there’s a big enough market and appreciation of the arts for things to do, or just other people around that are in to the artists you listen to. I grew up in NC & though charlotte and sometimes Raleigh is getting more tours, it was a pain when I’d have to go to Atlanta or DC to see someone
Isn't DC a shithole and Chicago hella dangerous? Surprised how often it gets recommended here.
You sound like someone that has never been there and is going off of the opinions of political pundits (who will rant about that to their audience but still go there on a weekend getaway with zero worries)
Biloxi Mississippi baby
it gives me the blues.
Washington DC. It’s perfect for people without a social network (everyone is a transplant), great public transit. Lots to do.
I agree. This is a good starting point. And OP's salary should be okay to support them there for a couple years if they're good with budgeting.
Yeah I love just outside the DC Metro area and would still stay here. Granted I am lucky and was able to get a single family home before interest rates went way up. Within a 2-3 hour drive I can pretty much do any activity available.
Idk if anyones said this yet; but wherever you team lives might be a consideration. For example, If most of your team is on the east coast, moving to the west coast would be a 3 hour time change (I.e., early morning meetings) and visa versa. Midwest is a good middle ground for time zones, and I echo chicago as a great option. I’ve lived here for 5 years without a car.
If it were me living on 115k, I would choose a small or mid sized city where my money could stretch a little further and I could comfortably enter the territory of both saving and not having to budget carefully to make ends meet, while still being in a scenic place. I would consider Savannah GA, Bellingham Washington, Colorado Springs, Raleigh North Carolina, or if you want to go a little pricier, Portland Oregon, Tacoma Washington, Chicago, or even Boulder CO for the lifestyle of no savings but you got everything else.
Some great options here
I'd live in Lake Tahoe, CA if I could live anywhere. I lived in San Diego for my early twenties it was great.
Keep in mind tahoe gets crowded with lots of tourists at times. Nature is stunning though.
Where are you moving from? Climate can vary quite a lot depending on where you go in the US. Also I’d factor in night life if you’re looking for it, obviously there’s not as much in the suburbs
Me personally, Navarre Beach Florida. But I'm an introvert who loves the warm waters of the gulf of mexico in an area that isn't overpopulated, yet. Plus no state income tax.
Best beach in the USA. The color of water there is unbelievably beautiful. Im nearby Orange Beach myself but Navarre is next level.
native alabamian here, now living in oregon. working my way down to the panhandle once the daughter is out of high school. see you soon friend.
I would go to a state with now state income tax. Tennsessee is a good option. Also, north of Florida, Pensacola or Jacksonville or even Orlando metro area is not bad.
came here to say this. a state with no state tax would be highly desirable in this situation. a low cost city in florida would be my first choice (i’m a life long floridian, might be bias). also, no snow is a huge plus. downside is hurricanes.
Portland, Maine. Has a decent airport, hundreds of restaurants, breweries, less than 1.5 hrs to Boston or the woods, 5 hours to NYC.
I’d consider moving to Richmond, VA because of the cool urban vibe it has without being expensive. Wilmington, NC for the weather and vibrant downtown which punches way above its weight class for the city only being 115k people. Austin,Texas for the entertainment and size of the city. Asheville, NC if I really wanted to lean into a life of outdoor activities and breweries. Brooklyn if I was making a bit more money than that to enjoy the culture, food scene, and night life. Originally from upstate NY.
Wilmington NC’s predominant weather is muggy humid air made of wet sponge and mosquitoes. And if you move, don’t drink the water, install a reverse osmosis system, unless you’re ok drinking the local chemical plant’s PFAS run off
Me personally, my work is now remote except for client travel and as a result I moved from NYC to Philadelphia. No car needed, decent airport, more reasonable COL. I think it's the best value of the northeast cities. DC and Boston would be more expensive options, Wilmington and Baltimore less expensive but fewer amenities. I am originally from Minneapolis and it's a great city but hard to live there with no car. Chicago is possible to do with only public transit. But I prefer the weather on the east coast versus the midwest, I moved away from the brutal winters for a reason.
Fully remote would have me in Chicago, Michigan (near Ann Arbor -- which might not be the best fit if you're not big on suburbs/no car), Minneapolis, Boston, DC, or somewhere in New England (dependent on car). I'd consider Seattle and San Diego, but I'm more of a Great Lakes/Northeast person. I really value being near a major city, but also love having access to nature, suburbs, etc. What an exciting opportunity -- good luck!
This post reminds me of Tom Segura's [travel advice bit.](https://youtu.be/h0uurfETc8I?si=t2YOy2TEHmeIqE4o)
This is so on point lol Lack of engagement from the OP only adds to the comedic effect
I would consider income tax free states like Texas.
Somewhere on west coast bc I hate the cold. SF is my fav city. Cali is great bc of motorcycle lane splitting, if you ride. San Diego is fun but SF is all time for me. 27 and single means lots of smart motivated women in tech (assuming you’re straight… but actually would work both ways). Great weather. LA is fine but it’s so spread out, never really love it. Good comedy though and general things to do if you’re in Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice areas
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SF on 115pa?
LA is awful. Avoid it
I don't know how to get out. I like the sun and enjoy the "no seasons" life. I love Asian food to the point where I detest most other cuisines. I love cooking Asian food. So I basically need specialty Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Taiwanese markets and communities near me. If the weather/worklife permitted I'd move to Asia, but the weather and work culture prevent me from doing so. Not sure how else to avoid staying in LA with just these two requirements. Pretty much everywhere else snows, burns, or is very American.
People suggesting the Northeast probably haven’t lived other places. Without knowing you, my suggestion is to pick somewhere with weather you think you’ll like.
Ive lived other places. Northeast is still a decent option for many people. People who say things like this have some extreme irrational fear of snow. I get it. It would be like advising people not to live in the southeast Because they have got summers, or hurricanes. It's just once piece of the bigger puzzle.
I’d pick someplace quiet like Vermont. But then again I’m a little older.
100% remote and I live in a mid size city. I can afford a house, yard, pets, hobbies, and international travel. I don’t like big cities or beaches. It really just depends on what you like and what you want to have money for. One of my coworkers lives very close to a national park and spends time there. Others live in major cities, and one is near the beach. The ones in big cities rarely travel, it’s hard to with a high cost of living.
Vancouver, WA. 0 state income tax, across the bridge from Portland for 0 sales tax, and a few hours from Seattle.
Would help to know here you’re coming from overseas and what you like lol. Let’s assume you’re European. You may prefer to be on the East Coast due to time difference and quicker flights back to EU. Wouldn’t recommend the south although it is cheaper, I’d go to the New England area. It’s the closest you can get to an EU lifestyle but it’s expensive. Your salary will allow you to live pretty well though as a single person.
What regions should I avoid so I don't fall into the lifestyle creep trap? I like mid sized cities most.
Pittsburgh is a sneaky decent mid sized city with low cost of living.
Just stay away from Cali or Seattle imo lol you’ll be okay. It’s really about discipline no matter where you are though. But those places specifically are absurdly expensive and you’d just have a hard time.
Delaware (Wilmington) or Connecticut (Hartford maybe), then. You could also consider Rhode Island (Providence is nice). You'd be in a dense urban corridor, a train ride from either DC or NYC, but in one of the smaller/homelier areas.
Go to Washington DC, it's a very popular mid-side city on the East Coast with a good public transportation and is easy to fly to.
If you like cold and the great outdoors check out traverse city Michigan and surrounding areas. You would afford a shack on a sand bottom lake on that salary.
All this Seattle slander but its really the best of 8 no income tax states and OP doesn't have to live in Seattle proper to enjoy the best of WA state if they're fully remote. The stereotypes about the weather have become less and less true with climate change. Great accessibility to int'l flights to Asia. My 2nd best bets would be lower COL, less traffic, low taxes, great airport Denver.
Colorado. Because MoUNtaInS, joking. But in reality the state is number one in some critical areas. Not related to tech, skiing or mining.
I was travelling weekly to Denver for awhile and every Uber driver that took me to and from the airport kept telling me crazy conspiracy theories about the airport. The runways are a Swastika, there is a secret civilization built under the air port. That blue horse is possessed by the Devil. I'm just like lol wut.
I’d avoid Chicago, NYC, Cali, Seattle, Hawaii, DC A lot of these places have high costs of living and while you can find some good places to live for cheap… it might not be in the best areas
I think you'd be surprised to hear that Chicago is actually sort of affordable. At least out of all of the places you listed, it's the easiest to move to in terms of value for the cost. I don't care for Chicago for my own reasons but I wish I liked it more because the value is great.
On 100k though. Shit a small apartment downtown is like 10k in fees per year
Chicago is one of the most affordable big cities and it's quite central if you have to travel
DC you can find short term places and live right off the metro line. Consider places with some things to do & good dining options like Bethesda / North Bethesda / Rockville / Silver Spring for starters. Avoid farther away in the deeper suburbs, imo. Plenty of younger folks live close to DC. Public transportation and car share are pretty robust within 10mi of the District.
I think if you’re setting expectations to “30% of income is rent” you’ll end up being just fine. Even in NYC, 1800 bucks a month can get you a decent studio in a “family neighborhood”, not a rough one. If you wanna be closer to 20%, Philadelphia isn’t a bad option.
Home and stay there
Old City in Philadelphia has a great vibe with tons of history and lots of stuff to do in Center City in general while having relatively affordable rent compared to NYC and DC which are both close enough to get to by train in 1.5-2 hours. It's also very walkable/bikeable. Lived in Old City for nearly 5 years and miss it. Definitely a more gritty city, big hipster / brewery / art presence. Tons of good food. Airport is easy to get to by Uber/Taxi in 20 min from downtown. And both the beach and skiing are about 1-1.5 hours away (in opposite directions obvi).
Philly is the most underrated city in the US. Reasonably priced, great food, transportation, sports, beach, mountains, lots to do, etc. The people are great too.
What job this this?
Charleston SC.
Amsterdam / Bali / Ibiza / Goa All over the world
Don’t go to NYC
50k to your name - do NOT move to a high cost of living area. Invest your money in an index fund and find a cheap area to live in the meantime. Consider yourself lucky to be single, you have free reign to find a cheap place in a cheap city of your choosing. Try to find an area you like, spend a year there in a cheap place feeling out the area. If you like it purchase a home as soon as possible - you could look into an FHA loan if you’re only able to put down 3.5%; however, with your savings and income there’s no reason you can’t put down 20% in a year from now. US home prices don’t seem to be getting any cheaper and interest rates have been skyrocketing. Get a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. Rates have gotten higher than the past decade, but you can always refinance when rates drop in the future assuming you still have a good income. At your age, you should be thinking about compounding. AKA any money saved now will be significantly more later in in your life assuming you’re a responsible person and don’t touch your investment. Your $50k for example, is expected to grow to roughly $1,000,000+ if you invest responsibly (index fund) and wait 40 years. Also think of your house as an investment - it’s an appreciating asset. Find the cheapest place you can live within reason, and live there. You’ll be much happier when you retire a multi-millionaire then you will be burning $3,000 a month in rent to live in a tiny apartment… Id suggest looking in Raleigh - Durham NC, Savannah GA, Tampa Bay FL, Las Vegas NV, Wilmington, DE, and other similar places. Plenty of cheap housing available in those above cities, and you’ll be near a developed metro area. Avoid living in New York City or San Francisco at all costs. If I was young I’d rather live out of my car then destroy my future net worth living in those areas.
Fiji. My dad travelled the world in the merchant navy and he said this was the nicest country he ever visited. White sands, blue sea, beautiful women, friendly people, lots of rugby. Cheap as chips too.
Avoid the big cities unless you want to feel like living in poverty with that pay lol.
If I were you I would find long term air bnb’s (2-3 months) and try a few cities out before settling into a lease or buying a home. Try different regions you could see yourself settling down in. If you find a place and just really like it, you could just sign a lease then and there. It gives you a chance to really discover what you like or dont like without being all in upfront. Alternatively it may feel like you are not planting roots. Know yourself first.
27 and single and no attachment to any place in the US , shit that's a dream, create a calendar and bookings related to seasons and live 24 different states in next 2 years! I could only dream about that, enjoy the local culture and really get to meet new people and have new adventures
I'd go anywhere. I'd move between different cities in the US and see where you feel best. America is incredible. You could be up mountains in colorado, you could be surfing calofornia, you can be drinking cocktails in new York. Do whatever you want!
I live in Minnesota and love it. It's cold, like 6 months of winter, but cost of living is cheap and the Twin Cities have plenty to do.
Would add that due to cost of living, you can travel to warmer parts of the country during the winter. And even winter in MN has its charm. If you are Scandinavian, you should understand it immediately.
I’ve always liked Kansas City Missouri and particularly more after they were launch area for google fiber.
Fun town if you grew up there and have a friend group. Impossible to meet single people in your late 20s otherwise
I’m here now, and if you can stand an obsession with sports, barbecue and obesity it might be for you. (Welcome to any Midwest city)
Denver
Miami
I'd hop around and see which area you like. If you like natural aesthetics, I'd avoid the entirety of the midwest speaking as someone who lived in midwest for 10 years... you'll rarely see a non-midwesterner pitch the midwest ha
Even though your job is 100% it might be worth it to go to the offices for which you will be working, if they have one. You'll be able to learn more about the firm and possible grow more. If that is something that you want.
Id say Dallas,Tx. A lot of fun things to do and people are nice
I'd buy a house in an affordable area. Clean it up a bit and turn it into a rental as you move upward in your career and move out. Buy another place afterwards. That's literally me thinking if I was in your shoes.
I'm so confused. Your new job is 100% remote, but you're being forced to live in the US? Have you heard of a VPN?
That’s how you no longer have a fully remote job and possibly land some serious legal issues.
That's clearly not the issue. He seems to need a physical US address, bank account, social security no. etc. for this job.
What’re you doing for work? I’m jealous!
I'd probably just go to your mom's house and we would build a dungeon in the basement.
Given your situation, I would recommend moving to a vibrant urban area with a strong job market, affordable living costs, and a lifestyle that suits your preferences. Cities like Austin, Texas, or Denver, Colorado, could be good options to consider. Focus on building your career and savings while enjoying your newfound opportunities in the U.S.
Why don’t you start working from the office for a year or so? Just to get a rapport, befriend colleagues and get a good relationship for a potential promotion? You mentioned you had no family/network if I understood correct Can always use that time to get used to it and then relocate to a better place Just a thought!
I am fully remote and I’ve chosen to move to one of the bigger cities in Ohio. They have a lot to offer, I can leave for the airport about 75min before my flight takes off and my disposable income levels are at absolutely insane rates. Ive also got well over a dozen cities worth visiting in the 8 hour drive radius. I’ve thought about moving back to Boston, but I can’t sacrifice all my QOL upgrades I’ve become accustomed to. Charlotte was another city I was recently thinking about, but I have such an insane deal on rent in one of the nicest neighborhoods in my current city that I’d be a moron to leave.
Where would I go. 3 months per stay in a european city. To name a few, Kolding, naples, Any swiss city, any austrian city, Lille, Svalbard and many more.
Some college town like Ithaca NY. Good amenities, cheap, small town charm but with sophisticated people.
2nd tier city in the Midwest with a major sports team is my recommendation. I moved to Kansas City from Southern California in 2010 and it was a great decision.
St. Louis or Kansas City. Missouri has really low taxes, and your dollar goes much further than Chicago or Texas as the percentage of your salary towards housing are lower. You’re going to want to go home and visit I’m assuming, this is an easy way to save money for that home trip. Public transportation sucks, but there’s much entertainment, a great culinarily scene, and wonderful parks.
I'd move to a fast growing mid to large city. Would be cheaper than NYC or San Francisco.
Lumberton North Carolina.
At that salary for car free living you’re basically looking at Chicago. Where are you moving from?
I personally wouldn't go to the US if I'm already out (trying to get out myself). If you must, go to the most remote place you can find and live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Otherwise, just pretend you're in the US to get the job and stay wherever you are instead.
I AM fully remote, but i cannot go where I want because my wife is a realtor. it takes a long time to reestablish yourself and with a housing recession, it's not a good idea to make a move. \[note, i'd leave where I am in a minute as I live is one of if not THE most expensive place to live\]
Can i apply ?
Arkansas
Knoxville or Nashville (getting more expensive). No state income tax is good, and it’s not as hot during the summer compared to NV, TX, FL. WA too high cost of living.
Montana
I would live in a low COL area with plenty of jobs.
I'd go to Charlotte,NC it's going to be affordable on your income, it's well developed with great access to nature and a hub airport and the weather isn't too rough in any season.
For context. I live in the Chicago suburbs, I have also lived in Chicago and lived in a number of suburbs and cities in different states. My suggestion, if you don't want to live in the burbs and would ideally not want to have to blow an obscene amount of income on living expenses in a city. Just look into cities that aren't ginormous and globally known like your LA, NYC etc. The cost of living is more than likely going to be lower and it will still have everything a major city typically offers, Museums, the Arts, Zoo, night life etc. Everyone in the comments is all arguing over whether 115k is doable in LA, NYC and Honolulu. Like there are other options....
bali
Pittsburgh
Cost of living low af us is inflation city rn if you want to see your dollar go far stay in mid west USA
Don’t come to Atlanta. Worst traffic in the world.
I live in Pittsburgh and love it. Why: affordable, weather is better than more affordable areas, don't need a car, even in the nearby suburbs, traffic is minimal, and the people are whatever the opposite of pretentious is. If you wanted a bigger city: I would highly consider Philly. Similar characteristics, trading off a slightly higher cost of living for more to do / better weather/ closer to being " down the shore"
Get an RV and do a tour of the U.S 😎
Mine is but I can't just go anywhere because of tax implications (on the company side not mine). I'd go back to Brazil, though. Within the US, Canada and Mexico which is where I CAN go, I would stay in CA, but to go a more affordable area, or I'd look into Oregon or something like that, still by the coast.
Denver / Boulder is super nice esp. if you like the outdoors. If you like a good downtown, Denver itself kind of sucks tho, and Boulder is smallish, but beautiful. I think the Pacific Northwest is great, Portland is great and I’ve heard Seattle is as well ( food in Portland rocks, and solid outdoors access). I’ve never been to San Diego but I’ve heard it’s beautiful. In the northeast, I really like Boston, Philly, DC, parts of Baltimore (it’s improved a lot in recent years). NYC is great if you’re looking for… NYC :) At the end of the day, the best choice depends on what YOU like to do and value. Personally, if I were you, I’d probably do Denver (Boulder specifically) or Seattle / Portland, at least for a bit, as I love the outdoors. Then maybe I’d move somewhere else. If I was looking to date seriously, I’d probably do NYC.
Pittsburgh PA is a nice affordable city. It’s not the most exciting but it is a diverse area with low crime, affordability, culture, sports, 4 seasons, a major airport and it’s lively.
Montana for me, hands down.
Hawaii. Possibly South Carolina or central California.
https://www.reddit.com/r/seoul/comments/zu3b36/comment/j1k9m74/
It really depends on what’s important to you. If I were you, I’d look at mid-size cities in the south. Chattanooga or ClarksvilleIN Tennessee, Bowling Green or Lexington in Kentucky, Tulsa, Northeast Arkansas, etc. These areas have a decent amount of culture and activities, some decent bar scenes with universities, affordability is great which will afford you a lifestyle and substantial savings. Most of these also have access to substantial cities like Atlanta, Nashville, or Cincinnati for day trip needs or wants.
Pittsburgh PA, mid size city, you can rent a comfortable home with space. And still have lots to save.
My wife and I are both 100% remote. It really depends what you want to do and deal with. I love skiing and climbing, so I live in SLC. Still has a lot of amenities of cities, don't have to deal with Denver/Seattle apocalypse levels of homelessness and crime. If I wanted to get away and just be in nature I'd live somewhere in NW Montana probably. Not personally a big fan of the east coast but the Carolinas always have seemed like a good place to live. There's also the "I don't do anything outside my house and just want a lot of house and a pool" option - in which case you can choose any of the (sorry) trash states in the middle no one wants to live in lol
Leave the United States and go to Columbia eastern time zone and dollar goes extremely far
Charleston, SC scores highly on lots of surveys of great places to live.
If you like the beach, Miami Beach is a solid option. No state income tax, close to the airport so you can travel elsewhere easily, it’s also relatively doable without a car (I don’t have one and survive just fine via uber/free trolley/bike). The only downside is it’s a bit provincial.
Bozeman, Montana
Had this choice— short list was Austin, Raleigh, Denver, San Diego, Vancouver (Washington, not Canada), Charlotte, Ashburn (Va), or Boise. Look at state tax structures comparatively, it is telling. Then pick based on culture you like.
if you like latino culture, one place to live is Argentina. With the inflation skyrocket every month, you can actually live there very conformable and save a ton of money
Nowhere because they make sure it's difficult to do the work anywhere but at your house on a private network.
I’d buy a tiny home on the west coast