Considering Chicago as a remote employee
As a remote employee I've been looking for states with no income tax. However, after visiting Chicago - I've learnt it's incredibly cheap. You can live in the best neighborhoods in The Loop or River North for under 2k a month. It feels like college again with all the normal young people. Which makes me wonder why FB employees pay 4k for live in boring ass Menlo Park. Ideally NYC is the best city in the world. But the biggest turn off is no one in their 20s can afford it so I'll no friends even if I can afford it. Is Chicago the best town for remote workers?
Ummm I grew up in Chicago. Are you talking about $2000 in rent? Because there is no way someone can live there making a take home of $24,000 a year
He’s saying if you get paid 200k in Chicago, you can live wherever you want, and probably buy house immediately. In Bay Area, that same amount is low middle class - middle class dependent on your family size.
I mean rent is under 2k a month to live in River North.
Atlanta/Miami are some other good places. I am interested to know more about your remote position, I might have to go remote next year since wifey may get a residency in the middle of nowhere. I assume you are in sales for Chicago, do you have to travel every week? I am on the other side, in IT Procurement. How easy would it be for me to switch into IT sales?
Atlanta is pretty sweet living tbh. Rent and housing is really affordable, quality of life is good without paying out the wazoo for it, it’s nice to be near an airport where there are dozens of flight options all the time, but traffic here sucks (not as bad as LA though). People are generally really nice and friendly, and the food is fantastic. Just be aware that nearly all the culture in Atlanta is inside the perimeter (I-285) and that traffic is a lot worse on the daily if you live outside the perimeter and commute inwards (public transit here is awful and really limited)
Menlo Park >>> Chicago. Grew up in one, wish I can someday afford to live in the other.
Chicago must be nice if it’s the third largest city in US.
The great thing about working remotely is that you’re no longer stuck working in a big city. Why would you squander that by moving to a big city?
I live in a small city and it sucks ass. The only good thing is I live like a king
How can living like a king suck ass?
How often do you have to travel?
Rarely but I do personal travel often
Washington has no income tax. I rented a house there 20 minutes from where I live now in Oregon when I was working remotely and saved $28k in taxes that year. You can also shop in Oregon and pay no sales tax. I did pay a toll bridge fee, but it didn't cut into the savings too much.
The only downside is the cold and income tax. However, Chicago is so cheap - income tax is offsetted.