Tech IndustryFeb 17, 2020

Moving fron Seattle to Los Angeles. Suggestions please

We have been living in Seattle area for mkre than a decade and want a change of scenery. Have a job in LA office of Facebook that im planning to apply for internal transfer . Wanted to get advice from people who did a similar move and things they like or dislike about both places. Heard about the traffic in LA being bad. So plan to live close to work in Playa vista. Thinking culver city or santa Monica . Family of 3 with a toddler so looking for family friendly neighborhoods with decent schools. Anything else to think other than state tax and warm tropical weather with occasional forest fires ?

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Salesforce mahomes Feb 17, 2020

Do you get TC bump? LA is costly than Seattle

Google mudcake Feb 17, 2020

At OP's TC, I imagine a 15% increase would be nothing.

UBS AAON34 Feb 17, 2020

I don’t think that’s necessarily true unless you live outside of Seattle.

Hootsuite Hedwig Feb 17, 2020

I lived in Seattle then moved down and then back up again. Reasons were simple - (1) there is no easy commute in LA even if you live next door to the building, (2) schools will suck close to any of the areas where the offices are, (3) cost of living is much higher - not just state income tax but things are generally more expensive in California, (4) there is no easy way to get to anything around LA - you will be stuck in your neighborhood for pretty most of the time as there is no LA city. Everything is spread out and difficult to get to, (5) housing... damn. Expensive and a shoebox. (6) worst drivers in the world by a long shot. Have lived in 5 major cities on 3 continents and LA is by far the worst. Entitled and rude. (7) traffic jams... Sunday at noon on any road in LA is like the 405 on a Monday morning commute. (8) The areas you might like will mean a major commute - Sherman Oaks etc have better homes for families and half decent schools but is a commute. Culver City could work as it has some good schools but the housing prices are ridiculous for the size that you get. Expect to pay about +70% what you would pay in Seattle or Bellevue for a smaller property. LA is like the movies - pretty if you get the right camera angle.

Salesforce mahomes Feb 17, 2020

Well said

UBS AAON34 Feb 17, 2020

I agree with some of the cons you pointed out about LA-it definitely has its problems. But in my view, Seattle is quickly becoming Bay Area V2. Housing prices are shooting up, homelessness is rampant and only getting worse, and the traffic has gotten significantly worse only in the last 5 or so years. I don’t see LA worsening too much, so given the weather and large influx of people, I wouldn’t be surprised if Seattle is a lot harder to live in 10 years from now.

Puget Sound Energy OIwb65 Feb 17, 2020

SM

Amazon xyyzzz Feb 17, 2020

Lived in LA then Seattle then LA again, see both pros and cons. Cost of living and traffic is worse in LA but the upside is more interesting place, food and people to meet. Culver City is definitely expansive thought, so ppl start consider mar Vista, pdr, or even west adams. I try to do a 14 miles round-trip bike commute once a week. FB should have enough flexibility so you could drive off-peak hours to make driving suck (a little) less

Google AngelPriya Feb 17, 2020

agree woth hootsite

Facebook meTr77 Feb 18, 2020

I lived in LA for 9 years, in MPK now (moved recently for this job). I can't wait to go back, I think the place is amazing for many reasons. Unfortunately, commute and school district are real problems there. I would go for El Segundo/Manhattan Beach, and just try to do early hours to avoid the worst of the traffic. (I've always done 11am-7pm but I figured with kids this doesn't work.) Culver and Santa Monica are also good choices, but you can get a much nicer place in a much nicer community at the same price. If you have to do regular hours though, I wouldn't risk it, since the commute can be pretty horrible. I'm interested to know how it goes for you, since I'm kicking around the idea of doing the same thing in a few years. I'm not really into any of the teams there (I'm iOS in and not that into React Native or random peripheral apps for Oculus), but I'm feeling like when it's time for me to leave the bay, I'm just going to bite the bullet, go down there anyways for the QoL improvement, and leave after a year if I don't like it.

Hootsuite Hedwig Feb 19, 2020

Note to Facebook @sih - “empirically”? Source please. Here are two reports on worst states: https://smartasset.com/checking-account/states-worst-drivers-2019 And worst cities by Allstate: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2019/06/25/do-you-live-in-the-city-with-the-nations-worst-drivers/amp/ Note what is number 6 on the list (LA) and who did not make the list? I am from neither city but Seattle was the first place I moved back to and it wasn’t job related. It was simply because LA just isn’t really a city. It is a place with many areas to live in but no center. And whatever you want to do means you will be stuck in traffic - always. With the worst drivers (well, 6th worst) imaginable.