Best Cities to Live in The USA

ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 15:50
Last edited 29/08/2023 - 13:35

Hey guys,

I work in the Tech industry and I'm considering taking advantage of the E3 visa and move to the US with my partner (no kids yet) to work and live for a few years.
I would like to focus on applying for jobs in five cities/regions and sincerely hope to land a job in any of them.

Currently, based on the number of job listings I found on LinkedIn; I picked a few cities that I like and have reasonable amount of job openings.

City/Region 24 hours 7 days
California (entire state) 1002 4365
Dallas 509 1979
Boston 441 1721
Atlanta 424 1716
Seattle 412 1634
Chicago 447 1561
Denver 361 1449
Austin 366 1443
RTP (North Carolina) 337 1297
Charlotte 315 1275

I personally lean towards the following cities/regions:

California:
Pros: After all, it's home to Silicon Valley, a place I've always aspired to be. The climate is decent and somewhat similar to Sydney; Highest income.
Cons: High taxes, high cost of living, possibly high crime rate.

Seattle:
Pros: Close to Vancouver and Portland (tax-free), lower taxes than California; Highest income.
Cons: High cost of living, gloomy in winter, less sunshine, possibly high crime rate.

Dallas/Austin:
Pros: Lower taxes, lower cost of living; Dallas has a major AA hub, making travel convenient.
Cons: Possibly lots of bugs? Hot and humid summers, and very sunny; Slightly lower income

RTP (North Carolina) and Charlotte:
Pros: Great climate, said to be therapeutic; low cost of living, good public safety.
Cons: High state taxes, lower income, possibly lots of bugs due to many trees?

Based on the fact that US topics are quite popular here, I'd like to kindly ask almighty Ozbarginers for their opinions on the above table and the cities I'm leaning towards. Are there any pros and cons I haven't considered, or any other cities I should think about?

I understand the current job market and US's gun control & crime rate is bad, terribly bad. But I do have to move away from my family due to some "issues".

Travel North America United States

Comments

  • WreckTangle on 26/08/2023 - 15:56
    +91

    There is a reason why so few Australians move to America despite the E3 Visa having being around for years. Honestly, there is an embarrassing lack of gun control. A toddler in a car driving down an L.A. freeway was shot dead recently. No way I’m taking my kids anywhere near that. Add in a healthcare and homeless crisis, racism and increasingly manic and violent Donald Trump supporters, its clear the US has become a total sh*t show. Americans used to be admired, now they are the butt of our jokes.

    • ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 16:04
      +1

      Thanks, mate. I'm fully aware of the gun issue. That's why I'm specifically looking for cities with relatively low crime rates and safer environments. I've heard concerning stories about LA, SF and Seattle. Even though I'm tempted by the high salary packages there, I feel it might be unsafe to live in those areas.

      • AngoraFish on 26/08/2023 - 17:43
        +27

        It's very hard to generalise about crime rates in American cities. American crime disproportionately occurs in extremely poor, ethnically segregated inner city areas where you'll have no interest in living anyway.

        The Greater LA Area has 13 million people. The San Francisco Bay Area has 8 million people.

        Furthermore, in America policing and education are a local government responsibilities. This means that relatively affluent local government areas with larger rate bases tend to have disproportionately large and well paid police forces and better schools, while poor areas tend to have struggling, underpaid police forces and awful schools - and correspondingly much higher crime rates.

        One of the reasons so many Americans are able to live with the gross amount of inequality in that country is that so much of it is invisible to the average middle class American.

      • Thaal Sinestro on 28/08/2023 - 08:36

        Most of the problems can be avoided by moving to a rural area in a red state. But you would then have vastly diminished employment opportunities.

      • milkabuck on 28/08/2023 - 16:56
        +2

        I had a work trip to Dallas about a decade ago. Absolutely everyone is carrying a gun there so not sure whether you consider that safe or not. I was chatting to a guy whilst waiting for a BBQ joint to open in the morning and he seemed perfectly normal to me (he worked in a pharmacy), but he admitted he had a gun in his pocket, and then quietly informed me that more people carry guns than don't in Dallas. Talk about feeling like the odd one out all of a sudden.

    • ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 16:10

      I didn't neg you, just FYI.

      • AngoraFish on 26/08/2023 - 18:06
        +60

        It may seem that way if you get most of your news from the usual angertainment sources, however actual statistics don't support that view.

        And seriously, if all we have to get hysterical about is a security guard with a knife wound, compared to the more than 400 mass shootings America has seen so far this year alone, Australia really can't be doing all that badly.

          • AngoraFish on 26/08/2023 - 21:33
            +38

            @CurlCurl: A single incident does not a "rampant" teenage crime wave make.

              • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 28/08/2023 - 19:43
                +1

                @CurlCurl: @CurlCurl open your mind for a second, and think why there is suddenly "rampant" shoplifting and crime news reporting recently, during a period of sky high cost of living, when also recently the major supermarkets reported BILLION dollar profits. Coincidence?

          • Protractor on 30/08/2023 - 10:09

            @CurlCurl: more than 400 mass shootings America has seen so far this year alone

            Let that sink in

        • Rear CreviceEruption on 27/08/2023 - 08:40
          +13

          And the reported shootings in the US don't accurately represent the number of firearm injuries. There are thousands of gun injuries per week in the US (including a lot of accidental injuries). Most do not get reported because the US emergency systems are so good at responding to firearm incidents that most shootings do not result in death.

          With 400 million guns and an insane attitude towards gun ownership, this is what you get: a society where you can never feel safe.

          • gromit on 28/08/2023 - 13:18
            +6

            @Rear CreviceEruption: yep you are literally at greater risk of being shot in the US than being killed in a car accident.

        • surg3on on 28/08/2023 - 12:45
          +3

          One crime = Same! lol

      • freefall101 on 26/08/2023 - 19:49
        +18

        There have been over 400 mass shootings (mass shooting meaning at least 3 people shot) so far this year in the US. Australia we just deal with the odd lunatic. In the US you get mass shootings from arguments escalating out of control, it's chalk and cheese.

        Have you spent much time in a major city in the US? Portland has gone to the dogs the past few years despite being the hipster city. Seattle don't have enough police - they keep quitting - and there's basically no point calling them even if someone is shot. Every US city is loaded with places you simply don't go to.

        I wouldn't move to the US unless I had bucketloads of cash so I could avoid any area that was sketchy. Plus with all the big tech companies having layoffs recently it's the worst time to move there.

        • afoveht on 26/08/2023 - 20:51

          What's happened to Portland? (Love the place but out of the loop)

          • donga100 on 26/08/2023 - 22:35
            +16

            @afoveht: Decriminalised all drug use and now have a fentanyl and homeless crisis.

            • CocaKoala on 27/08/2023 - 23:23

              @donga100:

              drug use and … homeless crisis.

              Sydney on steroids then.

          • CurlCurl on 28/08/2023 - 08:00
            -3

            @afoveht:

            What's happened to Portland? (Love the place but out of the loop)

            In my post I was talking about Portland Maine, not Oregon.

      • CommanderCrumbcake on 26/08/2023 - 22:15
        +5

        The plural of anecdote is not data.

        • Sinnerator on 27/08/2023 - 08:43
          +5

          but when you get enough anecdotes you get to hypothesis

      • Some Human on 26/08/2023 - 23:41
        -7

        This is what happens when you're not allowed to smack them when they're young.

        • Lurk Hartog on 27/08/2023 - 09:13
          +20

          Yes, the ghettos and trailer parks of America are world renowned for their gentle parenting techniques.

    • morse on 27/08/2023 - 08:32
      +5

      The healthcare isn’t too bad if your package comes with insurance, which you wouldn’t really take a job without if considering moving from Australia. Just need to read inclusions.

    • SlartiBartFozz on 27/08/2023 - 20:49
      +1

      Lower crime levels this year in St Louis, Missouri; Birmingham, Alabama; Baltimore, Maryland, Honolulu and smaller cities in Florida… but a whole lot of climate disaster challenges in any US coastal city, especially Florida / Hawaii.

      • misu p on 28/08/2023 - 18:38

        You are joking I guess, sorry I cannot tell. I mean maybe the crime levels may be lower this year but St Louis used to be called the crime capital of the US. I mean sure… they are no longer the worst… I guess that makes it lower.

        • Assburg on 29/08/2023 - 10:33

          Too much RDR2

      • morse on 28/08/2023 - 20:14

        I’m not sure about now, but when I visited Baltimore it was an absolute s*show in terms of gun violence. Shootings non stop and kids getting caught in cross fire.

    • frostman on 28/08/2023 - 13:48
      -2

      There is a reason why so few Australians move to America despite the E3 Visa having being around for years. Honestly, there is an embarrassing lack of gun control. A toddler in a car driving down an L.A. freeway was shot dead recently. No way I’m taking my kids anywhere near that. Add in a healthcare and homeless crisis, racism and increasingly manic and violent Donald Trump supporters, its clear the US has become a total sh*t show. Americans used to be admired, now they are the butt of our jokes.

      Please step out of your backyard and turn off your sprinklers. You're watching too many movies.
      Firstly, the crime rate is high due to relative proportion. 331 Million (2021) compared to 25 Million.
      We're only 7% of the population!!

      • Racism?
        There's plenty of racism here mate, the only difference is that in the US, people have the gall to front up and tell you their (racist) opinions.
        Check out the Cronulla Riots, an entire suburb went DEFCON on anyone that didn't look Anglo, Police just stood there.

      • Healthcare?
        You do know Private Healthcare for a family of 4 will set you back MINIMUM $3,500 / year, that's the most basic cover.
        Add to the fact you're already paying a Medicare Levy.
        Public Hospitals are a hit and miss.
        But why dont you add another 100 million people in Australia and tell me if we still would get free public cover?

      • try2bhelpful on 28/08/2023 - 14:05
        +16

        Absolute cobblers, mate.

        https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/gun-death…

        The USA has 10.89 gun deaths per 100K of the population and we have 0.91. They had an incident where 6 year olds were slaughtered and still couldn’t get rid of assault rifles.

        The racism in this country doesn’t go back to institutionalised slavery. It isn’t good but we don’t see the polarisation you see in America. For a start it is newsworthy here when the NeoNazis turn up and the mainstream politicians don’t think there are “good people on both sides” when someone drives into a crowd of protestors.

        Healthcare is, definitely, better over here. If you are really sick you will be seen promptly and you won’t go broke. The costs for procedures, and drugs, over here is much, much, less than in the States. Also you are at the mercy of who your employer picks as a provider. Some of the providers over there refused to cover contraceptives but paid up for the blue pills.

      • misu p on 28/08/2023 - 18:46
        +5

        Crime rate is usually calculated per 1000 people per year … so… there goes your population argument. It does not matter how many people are in country/state /city, you can actually compare "crime rates"…. that is where the "rates" comes from…otherwise we would just talk about "crimes".

        What are you on about health care? France + Englang + Germany… here you go, I just added over 200mil people all with free healthcare… Again what does population have to do with healthcare?

        I kind of agree with you regarding racism…. Australia does not look racist, but try playing Dota and then tell me Aussies are not racists…

      • johnno07 on 28/08/2023 - 19:29
        +5

        Firstly, the crime rate is high due to relative proportion. 331 Million (2021) compared to 25 Million.

        A crime rate is is a per capita "rate". Specifically so you can compare places with differing populations. Possibly Google the word "rate".

        There's plenty of racism here mate

        Yes there is - unfortunately. I feel like this is getting better. Hard to say as someone who is very rarely targeted in this regard, though.

        only difference is that in the US, people have the gall to front up and tell you their (racist) opinions.

        Weird call out. IMO how you act is more important than what you think. I think having a flagrant bigot as a head of state set the US back decades, socially and morally.

        Check out the Cronulla Riots, an entire suburb went DEFCON on anyone that didn't look Anglo, Police just stood there.

        This was nearly 20 years ago.

        You do know Private Healthcare for a family of 4 will set you back MINIMUM $3,500 / year

        So don't get it.

        Public Hospitals are a hit and miss.

        According to who? If you are in dire need of medical attention you'll get it. If it isn't an emergency, you'll still get medical attention but you'll likely have to wait. All without entering into lifelong crippling debt like you would in the States. Or being a slave to a job you hate just in order to receive health cover. I think private health insurance is a bit of a rort here (with it being propped up by the government through tax incentives) but that doesn't change the fact that we have extremely affordable, generally high quality public health care.

        Add to the fact you're already paying a Medicare Levy.

        A small price for the well-off to pay for the less-well-off to have access to the aforementioned public health care. It is in all of our best interests to have as much of our population be happy, healthy, and productive.

        But why dont you add another 100 million people in Australia and tell me if we still would get free public cover?

        Kind of a nonsense hypothetical. Are you saying that more people === lower quality social services? If you scaled us up sensibly, and applied our same morals to legislation and social spending, then I don't see why our public healthcare would be any worse than it is now.

      • Thaal Sinestro on 29/08/2023 - 15:30
        -4

        I read that if you excluded a certain, massively Democrat voting, demographic group from crime statistics in "The Shining City on a Hill", the crime rates would be similar to other Westernized nations. There are more difference to ethnic groups than just superficial cosmetic features.

    • Duece1995 on 28/08/2023 - 15:36
      +2

      Violent Trump supporters? You really should do some independent research.

      • try2bhelpful on 28/08/2023 - 23:08
        +4

        Actually that bit is correct.

    • capslock janitor on 28/08/2023 - 17:51
      +1

      toddler in a car driving down an L.A. freeway was shot dead recently.

      https://youtu.be/HgwMXI1cY4M RIP

    • geosta on 28/08/2023 - 21:34
      +6

      Absolutely this! I work in a very niche industry and every week I get some headhunter offering me a stupid amount of money to move the US. When I ask them if they have fixed their healthcare system, limited vacation days, the shootings (both general and school-based), the book burnings, the crime levels, the homeless, the drug deaths and the utterly failing state of their political system, I'm usually met with stunned silence, then a sputtering in-credulousness, then a snarky "I don't think you're a cultural fit with my client's organisation".

      This coming from someone who, growing up, wanted nothing more than to move to the US.

    • SydBoy on 29/08/2023 - 09:22

      everything you said about US is somewhat I would agree except the "racism" part … if you compare "racism" between Australia and USA then I doubt US will be first one in that race for sure in my opinion… !

      What you ignoring is that it is land of opportunity and many without Caucasian background successful in that country not just in Business but also in Jobs .. compared to Australia in my opinion… !

      Sure, it is the gun violence rate that scares me most and the reason I am not moving at the movement otherwise US is far better then Australia in many aspects.. !

    • TEER3X on 29/08/2023 - 17:40
      +2

      Guns don't kill people!

      People with guns kill people.

    • Senatekill on 29/08/2023 - 18:41
      +1

      You realise california is a blue state.

    • Tleyx on 29/08/2023 - 21:42
      +1

      Australia is the only country that America has net immigration

  • Brick50 on 26/08/2023 - 16:13
    +2

    OP how many of these US states have you been to so far?

    • Muzeeb on 26/08/2023 - 16:16
      +34

      Just the state of denial at the moment

      • Brick50 on 26/08/2023 - 16:18
        +1

        Agreed, I am very open minded about the US and would consider moving there but certainly not to CA or Seattle. I think OP needs to visit these places to see what they are like, not what they look like on google images

    • ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 16:27
      +5

      CA, New York, Washington, Florida for travel
      Minnesota for exchange.
      Well, the issue is, a couple of tourist trips couldn't reflect how the area actually is. But I wouldn't have the chance to live three months in each area.
      That's why I'm looking for Ozbagrainer's idea since someone else could live in the area I listed for a long period.

  • yaburi on 26/08/2023 - 16:22
    +3

    I'm in a similar boat to you.
    Would really like to do a couple of years in the US for that sweet tech money, but also really enjoy the safety and healthcare in Australia.

    Have you travelled to any of those states / cities before?
    Other cities you might consider: New York, Miami, Tampa, Washington DC

    • ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 16:28

      Yes I have, but I have not lived for an extensive period in any of these areas.

    • CocaKoala on 27/08/2023 - 23:25
      +1

      Tampa

      Abode of the revered Florida man. 🫠

    • geosta on 28/08/2023 - 21:39
      +1

      That sweet tech money has disappeared - there's something of the order of 200K people in the tech industry who have just lost their jobs in the US. It's a bloodbath there at the moment, and whilst I've no doubt it will correct soon enough, lots of my friends and former colleagues are currently unemployed when even 12 months ago that seemed unthinkable.

      Honestly, I think there is more going on in the local tech industry than there is in the States (unless you're a startup founder).

  • Hybroid on 26/08/2023 - 16:26
    +5

    It's quite difficult to sum up a decision like this based on anecdotal & subjective information.

    You can go to an amazingly rated place and have a horrible time. Conversely, you can go somewhere 100 people recommend you don't and have a fantastic career and lifestyle and never want to leave. It's impossible to say on virtual paper.

    • [Deactivated] on 26/08/2023 - 16:45
      +1

      Do you miss England?

      • Hybroid on 26/08/2023 - 16:50

        Not even a tiny bit. Just some of the people.

        • [Deactivated] on 26/08/2023 - 16:51

          King Charles & Co.?

  • try2bhelpful on 26/08/2023 - 16:27
    +6

    California, especially San Francisco, is probably closest to an Australian lifestyle. We’ve travelled quite a bit in the US and that is where we feel most at home and safest.

    The man worked in Atlanta for a few months, in fact we were there when 911 happened. There are, certainly, parts of Atlanta you don’t want to live in but if you pick the right bits you will, probably, be fine. The countryside in Georgia is beautiful in Autumn. The cons with the South is the heat and humidity, it can be pretty brutal.

    Personally I would be avoiding the South and, particularly, the GOP lead states. Whatever happens at the next election those will be hot spots. I would start with concentrating on California and maybe branching out later on.

    Moving overseas to avoid your family might be a tad drastic. Maybe you could move interstate.

    • ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 16:38
      +7

      Thanks for sharing your experience.
      Yes, I understand that moving overseas might seem dramatic. However, I believe it might be the only way to address my family issues and start my own family. My parents have serious control issues, and I hope that moving overseas might help them get used to living without me constantly around. The US is the only place they won't visit, and it offers great career potential. I do care about them and happy to move back to AUS after our family relationship gets better.

    • trapper on 28/08/2023 - 10:47
      +6

      San Francisco is a fricken disaster zone… extremely high crime rate, one of the worst cities in America.

      Things have changed a lot in the last few years.

      • try2bhelpful on 28/08/2023 - 11:02
        +1

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_b…

        Statistics from 2019.

        • trapper on 28/08/2023 - 11:18
          +2

          2019 and yes even then it had seventh highest crime rate in the country.

          Four years on and things are getting worse, not better.

          • try2bhelpful on 28/08/2023 - 11:56
            -2

            @trapper: With violent crime it is 37th.

            • trapper on 28/08/2023 - 12:39
              +7

              @try2bhelpful: lol what, crime is crime.

              In September 2022, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a poll of 1,653 city residents found that over the past five years, 45% of San Francisco residents had been the victim of theft and 24% had been either been threatened with violence or had been the victim of a violent crime.

              Yeah sounds like paradise.

              • try2bhelpful on 28/08/2023 - 13:29

                @trapper: Crime is not crime. There is a lot of difference between having your bicycle nicked and being beaten about the head. My area is subject to a lot of graffiti, which is a crime. I find it annoying but it is better than being stabbed with a knife.

            • try2bhelpful on 28/08/2023 - 23:11

              @try2bhelpful: Apparently some people object to an independent graph and would equate violent crime with non violent crime. Just odd.

  • sumyungguy on 26/08/2023 - 16:44
    +3

    I've visited 19 US states so far for leisure and on work assignments. I also know a few people who have spent a year or more in the workforce over there. I rate it as a fabulous place to visit, but I'd do a deeper dive on a few things before moving there: salary impact of no employer super and the higher cost of healthcare (even with insurance); workplace culture in professional roles appears to be more dog-eat-dog; if you need to make visits back here you may prefer west coast; find a city where there's an expat community to assist with your adjustment.

    • ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 16:50

      Thanks a lot. I believe most tech companies in the US offer 401k matching, which means they will match the contribution you put into your retirement fund (super). Some companies also provide free private health insurance.
      However, you're absolutely right about the workplace culture. I've heard from my US colleagues that some of the companies they've worked for have a terrible work-life balance, which is one of the reasons they moved to Australia (AUS). So, this is definitely a concern.

      • sumyungguy on 26/08/2023 - 16:55
        +3

        A short-term 401k is not going to be very lucrative as they're long term products, much like our super scheme. Of course not everyone is using super as a retirement strategy, but it is an effective tax shelter.

      • SydBoy on 29/08/2023 - 09:36

        OP retirement benefits as well as property tax as well as health insurance cost all needs to be considered in line with tax allowance you can claim back in US compared to Australia.. !! obviously, if TAX treatment for E3 different to those who are on greencard or citizen or h1 visa.

        US Tax System is completely different to Australia and there is no point at all comparing health insurance cost or superannuation benefits without considering tax as well as how retirement is paid back to you if you retire there.. !

        if you have skill and then US is the place where it will get rewarded without a doubt .. .look at Microsoft, Google, Nvidia … ALLL CEO are non Caucasian .. !!! so it is land of opportunity … !

        Only thing to consider is GUN VIOLANCE … and in your case if you wanted to get onto Green Card or Citizenship from E3 visa then make sure you understand how it works as it is difficult path to convert from E3 to Green card or citizenship … do that check first if you really wanted to settle in US for long-term…

        There are forum where E3 holder talks about their trouble of transferring from E3 to Green card or having them complaining about kids needs to pay high fees compared to greencard/citizen .. ! now all this people went on E3 in a hope to get back to Australia but then realised they prefer to settle there but transfer from E3 to Green card is a challenge so look that aspect if you are OK with Gun Violence issue… in my opinion.

  • 87percent on 26/08/2023 - 16:50
    +7

    The amount of driving you have to do in Southern California is crazy. Not to mention that if you pick the wrong time to go anywhere, you’ll be stuck in traffic for hours.

  • branners on 26/08/2023 - 16:50
    +5

    There are pros and cons attached to all those areas and it looks like you are aware of many of them.
    The other spot that might be worth considering New England. The USA's 'second' tech corridor spreads out from Boston to New Hampshire and into parts of Connecticut.
    NH has no state sales tax, so the cost of living is lower than the surrounding states, and the crime rate is relatively low. Not a tough commute to Boston and there are a lot of university and tech-related companies in the area. Just a thought…

    • CurlCurl on 26/08/2023 - 18:23
      +1

      Not a tough commute to Boston and there are a lot of university and tech-related companies in the area. Just a thought…

      Yep. Caught the train from Exeter NH to Boston and return a number of times also to Maine from Exeter.

  • Ocker on 26/08/2023 - 17:10
    +7

    To assist in your consideration of Chi-town:
    https://heyjackass.com/

    • AlienC on 28/08/2023 - 08:30
      +1

      Does Sydney or any Australian cities have an equivalent of this site it is really great honestly.

      • Kangal on 28/08/2023 - 20:29

        I too want to know.
        Seems USA has: Chicago, shootings, carjackings. For the UK it's: London, stabbings, home invasions.

        I'm guessing for Aus it's: Sydney, muggings, theft. So not good, but milder than the other two.

        • AlienC on 28/08/2023 - 21:40
          +2

          Pretty much this.

          We are definitely the watered down version of crime compared to the rest.

          I think even nz has us beat.

          This is a good thing.

    • capslock janitor on 28/08/2023 - 15:56

      im anti-chiraq

      • Ocker on 28/08/2023 - 16:34

        The South side is not a nice place if you are white

  • CurlCurl on 26/08/2023 - 18:02
    +6

    Spent 8 weeks in the US with my partner. SF, LA, Minneapolis. Dallas, New York City. Visited friends in New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island. Drove from Manhattan through many states Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and didn't see ANY crime.

    My pick would be Boston. Loved it.

    • afoveht on 26/08/2023 - 21:04
      +4

      Gorgeous city. Doesn't get the kudos it deserves IMO.

    • AlienC on 28/08/2023 - 08:31

      Also heard good things about Boston.

    • YellowDieselGolf on 28/08/2023 - 20:19
      +3

      I guess they don’t have any crime then. Cool.

    • TEER3X on 29/08/2023 - 17:42

      My pick would be Boston. Loved it.

      That's because you didn't go in the winter time

      • CurlCurl on 29/08/2023 - 18:05

        That's because you didn't go in the winter time

        Oh dear. Now I have someone telling me where I didn't go.

        If you don't call walking in snow on Hampton Beach and seeing fishing huts on frozen lakes in New Hampshire winter as it sure wasn't summer.

        • TEER3X on 30/08/2023 - 05:47

          Well your thoughts might be different if you went in the summertime then

    • rumblytangara on 30/08/2023 - 10:03

      You went as a tourist to the US and didn't see any crime?

      Colour me surprised.

  • Brick Tamland on 26/08/2023 - 18:42
    +1

    I'd be focusing on where do you think you will pick up the most opportunities and experience. Hard to pass up on the chance of working in Silicon Valley if you get the opportunity.

  • 7ekn00 on 26/08/2023 - 19:13

    Wait until you actually see the cost of living in these big cities :/

    Be prepared to pay 33-100% more (in $AUD terms) than you do in Australia for a shopping cart and rent …

    • ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 19:45
      +2

      I've actually done some comparisons. For instance, a modern 2-bedroom apartment close to work in the Bay Area would cost between 3k-4k USD per month. A similar one in Sydney's CBD currently costs around 5k-6k AUD. Food prices are quite similar. Dining out is more expensive in the US, especially when considering a 15% to 20% tip. Cars are cheaper in the US.
      However, the market salary in the US in the Bay Area is at least twice my current rate in AUD terms.

      • 7ekn00 on 26/08/2023 - 19:56
        +6

        Bay Area would cost between 3k-4k USD per month
        Food prices are quite similar.

        Old numbers, two pounds (approx 1kg) of ground beef in LA is over $US11 vs $AU11, etc etc

        You will quickly find out ;)

        Will also find out just how terrible the smell of human faeces is on the street just out the front of your $US4k/pm apartment!

        • ty99234 on 26/08/2023 - 20:03

          I guess that's something I'm trying to avoid. So I'm definitely looking for some nicer cities to live in.

        • morse on 27/08/2023 - 08:45
          +1

          Homelessness rates in the US are around the same as Australia, officially less but that probably just the counting method. It’s easy to avoid areas that might not be comfortable to live in by speaking to colleagues and looking at the right forums on Reddit etc.

          • trapper on 28/08/2023 - 11:11
            +3

            @morse: There are 15x more people sleeping on the streets in California alone than in the whole of Australia.

            Surely you have seen the footage of street after street of tent cities with thousands of homeless drug zombies stumbling around.

            There is nothing even remotely comparable to this in Australia.

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