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DC area tech jobs are mostly in the northern Virginia suburbs -- and there are lots (just Amazon has 2000+ jobs open right now). NoVA has several walkable entertainment areas (many more than in Charlotte!), plus it's easy to get into the city for a night out. But most of the area is a huge suburb... even if the malls have Uzbek or Uyghur restaurants. One downside is that a fair number of tech jobs require federal security clearance, which would be tougher for someone born in Russia. Good seafood, summers are almost as hot as Charlotte.
Boston area certainly has lots of tech jobs. Housing closer in is considerably more expensive, but a difference is that most suburban towns have a mix of car-centered and walkable areas. I'd say technology companies would be evenly split between having offices in the suburbs (drive to work) vs the city (can take transit to work). Cold winters, mild summers, excellent seafood.
Chicago or Pittsburgh are possibilities. Lower cost of living, slower growing economies but both have plenty of open jobs in technology. As mentioned above, both also have substantial Eastern European heritage. I don't recommend going to a smaller city; even if you can do your current job remote, you might not be able to find the next job remote.
DC area tech jobs are mostly in the northern Virginia suburbs -- and there are lots (just Amazon has 2000+ jobs open right now). NoVA has several walkable entertainment areas (many more than in Charlotte!), plus it's easy to get into the city for a night out. But most of the area is a huge suburb... even if the malls have Uzbek or Uyghur restaurants. One downside is that a fair number of tech jobs require federal security clearance, which would be tougher for someone born in Russia. Good seafood, summers are almost as hot as Charlotte.
Boston area certainly has lots of tech jobs. Housing closer in is considerably more expensive, but a difference is that most suburban towns have a mix of car-centered and walkable areas. I'd say technology companies would be evenly split between having offices in the suburbs (drive to work) vs the city (can take transit to work). Cold winters, mild summers, excellent seafood.
Chicago or Pittsburgh are possibilities. Lower cost of living, slower growing economies but both have plenty of open jobs in technology. As mentioned above, both also have substantial Eastern European heritage. I don't recommend going to a smaller city; even if you can do your current job remote, you might not be able to find the next job remote.
Chicago is around the same cost as DC for rental housing when looking at COL in 2021:
Based on what you said I’d lean towards DC with Boston as a close second. I think DC has Boston beat for activities, but Boston’s culinary scene is probably a little better. In either city you really will be looking at a small studio for $2,000/m and that might not even be enough for the best parts of either city. I’m sure someone more knowledgeable than me can comment on whether that budget is realistic for DC or Boston.
It's the reverse. Boston has more activities (better sailing, much better shopping, hikingand skiing 10 minutes south of Boston, and multiple beaches IN the city, more neighborhood oriented events on the regualr). DC has better food, mueseums and nightlife. Lived in both.
You could in theory get 2 BR for 2000 in both DC and Boston. In Boston though it'll be in worse areas of the city.
DC or Boston. It doesn't matter for what you do and coming from Charlotte and Siberia it's gonna seem pretty much the same.
Depend on the local culture/attitudes that you like. DC and Boston are pretty different in that respect. DC is slightly cheaper. NYC could also work it's not more expensive than Boston really.
Its the reverse Boston has more activities. DC has better food. Lived in both.
You could in theory get 2 BR for 2000 in both Dc and Boston. In Boston though it'll be in worse areas of the city.
I’ve never lived in Boston before so I can’t speak on activities there, but the COL in DC (for rental housing) is around the same as Atlanta and Chicago now. You can live in DC proper now with all the benefits paying Atlanta and Chicago rental rates in 2021.
The city has finally succeeded in delivering enough new housing units per year that rental rates are stabilizing. The city plans to continue delivering around 6k-8k of units per year virtually eliminating the COL (rental) advantages other cities had (past tense) over DC.
I’ve never lived in Boston before so I can’t speak on activities there, but the COL in DC (for rental housing) is around the same as Atlanta and Chicago now. You can live in DC proper now with all the benefits paying Atlanta and Chicago rental rates in 2021.
Ima need some evidence on this claim. Because ?? That dont sound right
As for the activities Boston being on the coast and closer to mountains has a lot of activity. DC has more and better-manufactured events and nightlife in central areas. Boston has a lot of consistent thorough family-oriented and neighborhood-oriented programming and way more natural features in and right next to the city. And Boston has beacoup programming provided by local universities as well-not as outward-facing.... but if you live there you get tuned in and its some very good stuff. Sports outings are more enthusiastic in Boston too.
Ima need some evidence on this claim. Because ?? That dont sound right
As for the activities Boston being on the coast and closer to mountains has a lot of activity. DC has more and better-manufactured events and nightlife in central areas. Boston has a lot of consistent thorough family-oriented and neighborhood-oriented programming and way more natural features in and right next to the city. And Boston has beacoup programming provided by local universities as well-not as outward-facing.... but if you live there you get tuned in and its some very good stuff. Sports outings are more enthusiastic in Boston too.
Sure:
The cost for rental housing is pretty close in DC, Atlanta, and Chicago in 2021.
Good one and I was thinking the same thing with Buffalo due to its affordability, tech/startup scene(s) and its similar proximity to Toronto. It is also 21st on the remote worker list.
so I gotta say that DC is way more similar to Boston in terms of price than ATL or Chicago.
On a per-capita basis DC and Boston are virtually identical in terms of available apartments under $2,000
In real life, people are looking at what I can rent today. If you are moving to DC, Atlanta, or Chicago today, the links to actual real-time rental rates are there. That’s the problem with looking at an average for cost of living. It doesn’t reflect what you can actually get when looking to move to an area especially when you’re talking about brand new apartment buildings which my links focused on.
If the OP decides to move to DC, Atlanta, or Chicago at some point, the rent for new class A vacant apartments will be around the same.
If you look at your links, many of those buildings aren’t in Boston. They are outside the city. Also, many of those units are old versus new construction. Most cities have cheaper units if you’re looking to live in old buildings. The units posted for DC, Atlanta, and Chicago were mainly new construction with all the bells and whistles including rooftop pools etc. for $1,400-$1,600 to rent studios.
Last edited by MDAllstar; 11-22-2021 at 10:22 AM..
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