Would you consider moving to Berlin, Germany from the Bay Area for working at a start up?

Having lived in Berlin, I can tell you some things about it. It has a high standard of living. It’s the dirtiest city in Germany but it’s way cleaner than London - I live in London now. It’s easier to find a job than getting an apartment in Berlin, I mean this in no small way. People like to say Berlin is diverse, it’s not, it’s just different kinds of white people & a few Turks. Berlin Germans are close minded fuck whatever you are sold about being open it’s BS. Be ready to learn Deutsche if you want to have anything close to a sane social life. The salaries are so low-half whatever you get in the bay, taxes are so high- single persons pays up to 42% (fucking take all my money then Merkel). Healthcare is waaaay better than in the US. Lots of tech startups offering shit salary. Amazon has an office there but it’s still shitty, a former colleague left just after 4 months of joining, terrible work conditions. Transport system is really good you hardly need a car. It’s a very green & beautiful city too. If you don’t understand German sorting out paperwork will almost drive you nuts. And also don’t forget to enjoy the casual racism that seems to be allowed in corporate environment.

If you don't know German and don't plan to learn it, don't go. Even though Berlin is very international, living in Germany with no German knowledge is hard. Been there, done that. I know German, but my English speaking friends had a hard time there. Make a research on who your coworkers will be. Germany is not an IT star and most probably you won't meet as talented/hard working people there as you meet in the Bay. Their current immigration situation is bad, think of the impact of the amount of refugees on their economy and also on the quality of their every day life. Anyway, I wish you good luck on your choices :)

Nope

U guys forgot to talk about the best underground music scene in the world .....for all you house and techno heads

I heard salary is only 1/5 for the same qualification and tax is way higher, not even talk abt all the benefits and perks we get in bay. Suggestions I heard is do freelance then u can pull in decent money without paying much tax while enjoy generous welfare benefits. That probably works for locals not sure it applies to immigrants. No one country in Europe could even remotely match the bay salary so yeah unless you want to take a huge cut

What startup is in Berlin?

I grew up in Berlin. It’s a cool city has so much to offer nightlife and socially. Good food too. Finding an apartment is extremely difficult right now and can take months. Salary in Germany will be 30-40% of what you make currently

Definitely not now. But worth it for a 2 year YOLO stint. Any major hub in Europe is worth it short term.

Meh. London, Zurich and Munich are better European cities imo. Berlin is like a poorer, less international, less globally relevant, worse compensated, cheaper version of London with crappier architecture, less food variety and a language most can't speak. And it looks like a third world country in comparison to London, Zurich or Munich. Germany and France are also about 10-15 years behind the US in race relations and integrating immigrants. I can say this because I'm German. Actually, I like SF far better than anyplace in Europe. It seems that Blinders never venture outside of the grimy, homeless-infested neighborhoods of Downtown, SOMA, the Mission and the Tenderloin.