NYC vs LA

Jan 7, 2021 290 Comments

Considering making the move from Santa Monica to NYC, as I have an opportunity to switch to the NY office. Has anyone made the move from LA, and can provide perspective on their experience? Curious about change in lifestyle (maybe things you missed about LA) or unexpected expense increases that I should be aware of.

TC - $120k (will be same in NY)
29 male with fiancé
#finance #tech

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TOP 290 Comments
  • You’re actually taking a pay cut. NYC is a lot more expensive
    Jan 7, 2021 23
  • More interesting and smart people in NYC than LA.
    Jan 8, 2021 3
    • IBM
      wdfvfr22

      Go to company page IBM

      wdfvfr22
      +1
      After living in LA many years and NYC 5 years I would also argue that NYC people on average are also more friendly with less judgement (nobody cares about what other people do) despite the reputations. As long as you know how to walk.
      Jan 21, 2021
    • Uber
      therhyhorn

      Go to company page Uber

      therhyhorn
      Can't speak to LA but having lived in the sf bay area for 6 years and now NYC for 5 and counting huge +1 to no one cares what you do. I love that the first thing people ask you isn't "where do you work?". In the bay area it was always some stupid dick measuring contest about your company, probably because people were too socially awkward to talk about anything else.
      Jul 17, 2021
  • Square
    akvashi

    Go to company page Square

    akvashi
    I'm surprised to see so much love for LA here to be honest. I moved nyc to la and back. NYC is more expensive for an apartment depending on what your standards are but there are tons of new high rises and you can get s great deal right now.

    LA is just a massive suburb with lots of great stuff but so spread out. I always felt i needed a plan to do things. And it's a day time city for the most part thanks in part to the weather.

    NYC in the other hand is a true city. It's massive and small at the same time. Live in most any neighborhood close to Manhattan (including in one of the other boroughs) and it's easy to get anywhere. Yes it can get cold in winter and humid in the summer ... Idk it's weather you deal, in fact the hole city changes from season to season. Rooftops and patios in the summer. Mulled wine and hot toddys in the winter. Being the city that never sleeps there is always things to do and lots of events coming to the city. Lastly my favorite part: new experiences tend to find you on the street. You just walk into the most amazing wine bar or spontaneous street band... Things that are harder to do in LA where you're in the car constantly and everything is a bit more closed.

    Idk LA just never gave me that. In the end it's a personal choice. But if you're in for some excitement I think NYC is a great place.

    Btw ask for s TC bump. NYC/SF is worth at least 10K more then LA
    Jan 8, 2021 5
  • Google
    m_p_c

    Go to company page Google

    m_p_c
    You're moving from shitty heaven to fun hell, do it
    Jan 8, 2021 6
    • UBS
      hamishloch

      Go to company page UBS

      hamishloch
      26 y/o in LA PWM speaking: the analogy works because LA is paradise on fire. This city wasn’t built for ~25-30+ million people. NYC is very very fun, however it gets cold as a mother fucker and is much more dense from a population standpoint if you’re talking about Manhattan. Pick your poison
      Jan 13, 2021
    • La is way to fake, but nyc is way tooooo real. Love it. Live there for a while and you’ll never regret the experience. But be prepared, the city will knock you out every chance it gets.
      Jan 14, 2021
  • Snap
    snap

    Go to company page Snap

    snap
    Buy some winter clothes and prepare for some nasty humidity in the summer
    Jan 7, 2021 3