Here's a brief commentary from someone else.
A good friend of mine moved from Boston to San Fran… and then back to Boston. Here are a few points which come to mind.
- You think the cost of living in the Boston area is outrageous? Just wait until you get to the Bay Area. Depending on the neighborhood you move to in San Fran, you can’t buy a loaf of bread for less than $4. People choose to live in RVs which they park in their employer’s parking lot. Tech workers live in Amsterdam hostel-style accommodations yet still pay several hundred dollars every month in rent. It just goes on and on with stories like this.
- The best and worst of Boston are especially amplified in SF. Are you a bleeding heart progressive type on the political spectrum? You’ll fit right in in San Fran. Thankfully, if you’re the type who likes to help out homeless people, get ready to have your hands full as there are plenty of them in the area.
- Traffic and congestion are equally bad in both cities. Depending on where you live and your preferred method of transportation, it could take you a long time to get to and from work.
- People are leaving the Bay Area at very high rates, primarily because of the extreme cost of living. This may eventually lead to a lower cost of living but don’t expect things to change any time soon.
- The move itself isn’t too bad especially if your employer is paying for it. Make sure you either have professional movers and/or friends to help you move on both ends, should you decide to move.
That’s everything I can think of at the moment. My simple advice is don’t move to the Bay Area unless you’re going to be one of these rest-and-vest type tech engineers. If you’re not in that position, it could be very very tough to make ends meet out there.