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LA- 95 to 100K salary (maybe able to negotiate to 100K)
Boston- 110 to 115K salary (probably be able to negotiate to 115K)
Chicago- 85K max
Dallas- 100K current
So I have some 2nd and 3rd interviews lined up and in these area's with these salaries..
I'm leaning towards Boston with that salary and the area (essentially be taking a slight pay cut bc cost of living). LA may be do-able.. Chicago, not really willing to take a pay cut like that plus the added state taxes.
They all seem doable, though the how much further 100k went in Dallas than it does in LA is going to come as a shock. Chicago is a big pay cut, though 85k seems like it should be enough to get by if you were totally in love with the city or something. Seems like Boston is the best bet. I used to live there, great city if you have a lot of money (which I didn't ).
You can scratch LA off the list. Your money will not go as far there(not that you can't live comfortably in LA on 100k). I would probably just stay put in Dallas because 100k goes along way there. I love Chicago though and you can definitely live comfortably on 85k there but like you mentioned that is quite a pay cut and the winter weather is not worth sacrificing the 15k pay cut. It's not all about money though I mean which city do you feel most comfortable in? Ultimately which one will satisfy your lifestyle the best......good luck!
100k in Dallas will have you living well, but if you want to live somewhere fascinating, then you can't go wrong with Boston/LA/Chicago. Just depends on your criteria and preferences.
I'd rule out Chicago because of the pay-cut, though.
I would say either Boston or Chicago. Both cities have a lot to offer in terms of food, architecture, history, culture. Even though you may only be making 85k in Chicago its still a lot of money.
I think this is accurate since I'm single (rent in Dallas is around 1100 and no state tax):
Boston- Lose 5K
Chicago-Lose 20K
LA-Lose 20K
115K in Boston would probably be equivalent to a 5K pay cut from 100K in Dallas. Apartments are about 2100 a month for something cheap and there's 5% state tax plus being at a 3% higher federal income tax bracket.
85K in Chicago is really a 20K pay cut with the extra state taxes... The city is decent but the winter is brutal.. Maybe even more if apartments in the suburbs cost more than 1100.. Not sure.
LA would be like a 20K pay cut (9.25% state tax and apartments at 1800 min instead of 1K) but at least the weather would be nice and there's lots to do.
So probably leaning towards Boston but and LA secondly...
Chicago is nice but losing 20K is a lot...
To have the same lifestyle 100,000 gives you in Dallas, you need 142,000 in Boston.
I'm not saying don't go. I can tell you want out of Dallas. You just need to prepare for the lifestyle change that comes with a lot less free money.
Those things assume that the person will buy a house I think.. That just sounds off..
Rent in Boston is 2100. There's 5.35% state tax, and 3% higher for Federal tax for higher income bracket. So that's about 20K difference total for that.
Food is probably about the same, gas a little more but you don't need to drive as much, everything else... Maybe beer, etc cost more at bars. There's no way that there's a 42K difference.
According to the price calculators, they say 100k in Dallas is like 145K in Boston, 135K in LA, and like 125K in Chicago... I don't think any of those statements are anywhere accurate.
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