Contemplating a move to a new city!
Im a SWE in NYC. Im thinking about different opportunities in Austin and in Seattle. Assuming TC (controlling for cost of living) is about the same in each city, what is the tech scene like in Austin and Seattle? has anyone made a similar move and can share their experience? Am i crazy for thinking about leaving NYC? BTW - San Francisco is not an option, I have no interest moving there.
I think your TC for Austin is going to be smaller than Seattle. Austin has some big names and a relatively new start-up scene. I think Seattle has few more big names than Austin! Austin wins if you are also looking for good weather, nicer people, amazing food and great live music scene!
“Good weather” it’s just different from Seattle, not necessarily better. It’s just trading dreary rainy winter for 3 months or so of 100+ degree weather in the summer Take it from someone who left Texas for Seattle
I would argue that Austin has 2 months of really bad weather (July/August), whereas Seattle has 8 months of dreariness. I will say that, in Austin, mid 90s is a nice day where you can go for a run in the morning, hit the pool in the afternoon, and eat dinner on the patio in the evening. If you consider that unbearably hot I would stay away!
Give it a try. If you are single Austin sounds better also it is closer to NYC.
Seattle is one of my favorite cities, but Austin is going to be better all around really. Plus no state tax. I live in Dallas but visit both often.
Seattle is excellent for outdoor enthusiasts and techies but the cost of living would be significantly higher than Austin. TC would be better in Seattle, but not proportional to the cost of living in most cases.
I live in Seattle but have visited Austin a lot. I would pick Austin. Seattle is becoming bay area 2.0 and I'm sick of seeing all the blue badges at the bars talking about tech or having to dodge ex-amazonians (current amholes) at work. seattle does have good outdoors and good museums and good bars but it's just not a friendly city. Dating even as a guy is starting to become which overworked Amazonian or which bland Microsoft PM should I go on a date where they talk about work? I swear everyone is always in a mood because of the weather too. Austin is just happening. UT Austin is a great school. 6th Street is its own parade every Friday/Saturday. Decent live music. Good festivals. Good weather. Friendly people. Relatively affordable homes. Good not great tech jobs. Kinda lacking museums and stuff to do besides drink and music in the city but there are hills to hike nearby. Girls approach you in Austin if you're put together. Just please don't bring any of the tech culture to Austin and don't brag about TC or which company you work at and such. Keep it weird.
This🤟🤟. Why brag about TC if you are confident enough! Yeah! Keep Austin weird!! Don’t want all that TC prestige in Austin.
Seattle is shit and boring. Tech scene is great but overall I do not recommend this city at all.
Cannot agree more... also, if you’re a single dude avoid at all costs