Hi Guys,

I'm new to this forum, so I apoligize if I'm posting a question which has been answered previously, but I wasn't able to find any asnwers in my search.

So I'm thinking of moving over to the US and I just wondered if someone could give me an idea of how much I would need to live a pretty comfortable life in Boston/New York and possibly Silicon Valley. I would assume it varies significantly between the places(or not) but I just want to know if I'm going to be comfortable on the salaries I've been offered.

Thanks in advance.
Craig

2 - 3 craploads ought to be sufficient for either place.

Seriously, you'll want a fair chunk. It's going to depend on things such as how many of you there are, what your health benefits look like, what you're used to living on, what you want out of life, whether you're going to be sending any kids to college...

Hi Adobe,

Thanks for your response. I'm a single guy, moving over alone.

Here at home I have my own house(owned) and I'm on about £65k salary, I do like to travel and do things so I guess I'd be looking for an excellent salary as opposed to just a good one..

Things they've included are healthcare, dental and 20 days holiday per year...

Cheers,
Craig

Including healthcare and dental are usual. The premiums vary tho.....
The 20 days is very good......assuming that's not including standard US holidays (Xmas, 4th, thxgiving, etc, etc.......)

Boston/Silicon Valley aren't too far off each other wrt costs of living. Its all dependent on what you want...........pool, beamer, extra bedroom, buy/rent/appt/house/condo, eat out every night, bang a hooker every Wednesday.........etc, etc.

Assuming you are in the clear for a visa and its a 1 or 2 year stint.......maybe start at $100k and crunch some numbers........it'll go fast in those areas if you have expensive tastes.

Thanks Lycanthrop,

I would assume it's excluding the std holidays, but will check..

All of the above sounds like what I'd be going for(bar the hooker possibly!). 100k (+30k bonus) is what I've been offered, so I guess I need to work it out, just trying to guage if I'd be happy on that over there..

Cheers,
Craig

CA State Tax and property taxes will be a bummer...

Also check the health benefits - what do they cover........ co-pays....... any deductibles (you don't want any of them...)

Boston area you need $100k plus I think...we get nowhere near that because hubbys company is holding on by its fingernails...but being here for a good few years a lot of things like homes loans and car loans are finished with..or very low...we live way out of Boston...but the cost of living on this bit of sand is about the same as Boston...I've noticed a lot of places giving longer hoildays...the last interview hubby was offered 4 weeks..

Happy to explore, go skiing, surfing, get a tan at the beaches, new tastes, sounds and smells..........thats the good stuff.........and btw, the birds in Cali are gorgeous. Brainless, but gorgeous....... Rock on.....

BUT.......

Silicon Valley is a break-neck paced lifestyle........be prepared for a LOT of work responsibilities........hope you have a jacked up metabolism and lots of energy.........and like Mexican food.

Bon Chance......

Thanks guys, your help and advice has been invaluable!

I owe you a beer when I move over...

Craig

what field are you coming over into.. I'm guessing IT... if it is IT then 100k + 30k is ... low... esp for Silicon Valley area... heck 65k sterling to 100k dollars is a little harsh in my book... when I moved over I went from 35k sterling to 75k dollars... 3 years later I'm on almost double that.

while I didn't move to Silicon Valley I did move into a similarly expensive area (LA).

Hi USBound,

It is indeed IT... So what should I be looking for?

100k is certainly quite doable, but I wouldn't call it excellent in Silicon Valley. Housing will likely be by far your biggest expense - try and work out what kind of hit you'll take on that.

Also, if you're over for the long-haul, factor in a 401k type of retirement account too - if you maxed that out it would take ~15% of your offered salary (I'm not counting bonus).

And you need to find out what those '20 days' really are.

Look Matt, just because you were based in Bakersfield - or was it Stockton - you can't make such sweeping generalisations...

CA ladies aren't all Valley Girls........ and then there's all the sophisticated and cultured imports...

I agree for NY too. and with the previous poster who state that going from 65K to $100k is not a good move unless you consider a paycut worth the experience. Even if you are moving from London to NYC that would be considered a paycut.

karma due from this California Girl.
<snicker> @ Bakersfield/Stockton (sorry, sisters!)