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This is so true. If Las Vegas was such a great town, why isn't the whole world coming to Vegas? Granted Las Vegas has cheap housing hands town. But you get to remember that the pay is way less than the average pay in the bay area. If you were to consider all the elements of housing/amount of bay it comes about the same. Therefore Las Vegas is not cheaper than San Francisco.
They still are.
And a lot of the ones that did in the past and desperately wanted to live here have already foreclosed on their homes.
This is so true. If Las Vegas was such a great town, why isn't the whole world coming to Vegas? Granted Las Vegas has cheap housing hands town. But you get to remember that the pay is way less than the average pay in the bay area. If you were to consider all the elements of housing/amount of bay it comes about the same. Therefore Las Vegas is not cheaper than San Francisco.
You still have to stick to what the OP said, the only difference in pay is $8,000 (more in Mt. View). With almost the same pay, Las Vegas would stretch their dollar further.
Give it up. The bay area pays high skilled people very well. Those people should not come to Las Vegas.
The peninsula is outrageously expensive for those making under 100K. It is a very nice place as you get above 200K.
I have!!! I rent out my home again in Las Vegas and I haved moved back to the bay many months ago. If I could sell my house in Vegas, I would and put that bad dream to rest. I will never travel to Vegas when there are already tons of casinos is Cali. By the way, housing like Vegas is affordable!!! 30 minutes out from SF, homes are going from $150,000.
Rents have came down and the weather is ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL.
Also I forgot to mentioned California has the best doctors with the best education. This is something you will never see in Las Vegas. Oh by the way, last month for my 2 bedroom house that I rent for 1200.00 (20 min frm sf), my electricty and gas combined was $27.00; got to luv that!!!!!
The SF job has the ability to become a 90k a year job within 6 months, the intention of the role is for me to gain an understanding of the company database and then move into project management.
Our lifestyle is modest enough really, we go out to dinner once a week - go to a bar for 1 or 2 drinks three times a week, we like to eat organic and spend our free time outdoors - parks, beach, mountains etc..
Let me throw one more variable into the discussion which I have just found out. The Las Vegas comes with 5 days vacation a year (to a European is just barbaric!) where as the SF job comes with 20 days and now stock options as well.
Off the point, but some observations from a European moving over:
Tax seems very low in the US - around 16k per year in SF, 12k in LV - compared with almost 50% that I pay now, cars are 60 - 70% cheaper to purchase than in Ireland, food looks to be absurdly priced - a four pack of Tropicana in CostCo costs $5, in Ireland a single pack of Tropicana is $7. Every-time I come to the US on vacation I am suspicious of the restaurants because you can get a decent main course in a nice place for less than $20 - $40 over here.
This point, to me, and I may be completely wrong here as I have only a few casual discussions to base this on, it seems in the states you get to keep much more of your salary after tax and then that salary goes a LOT further when you spend it?
I just don't know how you do the 5 days vacation thing though....
OPer here.
Let me throw one more variable into the discussion which I have just found out. The Las Vegas comes with 5 days vacation a year (to a European is just barbaric!) where as the SF job comes with 20 days and now stock options as well.
20 days obviously is much nicer than 5.
Quote:
Originally Posted by irishman_irl
Tax seems very low in the US - around 16k per year in SF, 12k in LV - compared with almost 50% that I pay now,
We have a bunch of taxes in the United States:
1) Federal income tax ~ weighted amount based on your earnings. (Probably about 10 - 15% of your income)
2) Social security ~ 6.4% of your income. You will receive this money back in retirement.
3) State income tax (not all states have these) ~ typically 2 - 6% of your income
4) State sales tax ~ typically 5 - 10% of the value of good you purchase
5) Property tax ~ roughly 1% of the appraised value of your home. Appraised values vary widely from state to state, so this might mean $1800 in Las Vegas or $10,000 in Seattle. Not sure about S.F.
6) Vehicle licensing tax ~ varies from state to state
I can't say what percentage of my income taxes make up but they do add up.
I don't quite follow your tax conclusion. With respect to income tax I would expect you to pay around $12K in CA and about 8K in LV. In LV you pay only federal income tax. Your marginal rate in both places would be about 10%. There is sales tax in both places of about the same size.
I find the 5 days surprising. US standard after probation is two weeks. Many places extend it with longevity. I have never seen a single week of vacation other than as a new employee. I would ask more questions of the HR people.
The primary difference is cost of living. The difference between LV and SF is over 50%. The peninsula is likely 33%. Two cars in SF is impractical on that salary.
1) Federal income tax ~ weighted amount based on your earnings. (Probably about 10 - 15% of your income)
2) Social security ~ 6.4% of your income. You will receive this money back in retirement.
3) State income tax (not all states have these) ~ typically 2 - 6% of your income
4) State sales tax ~ typically 5 - 10% of the value of good you purchase
5) Property tax ~ roughly 1% of the appraised value of your home. Appraised values vary widely from state to state, so this might mean $1800 in Las Vegas or $10,000 in Seattle. Not sure about S.F.
6) Vehicle licensing tax ~ varies from state to state
I can't say what percentage of my income taxes make up but they do add up.
hmmmm Interesting, your right sounds like it does add up
Still I would rather have your tax rate any day:
I pay tax 48% on my salary
21% sales tax on everything I buy
$1300 a year tax on my car (+21% tax on fuel every time I fill it up)
4% property tax - only on purchase though
1) Federal income tax ~ weighted amount based on your earnings. (Probably about 10 - 15% of your income)
2) Social security ~ 6.4% of your income. You will receive this money back in retirement.
3) State income tax (not all states have these) ~ typically 2 - 6% of your income
4) State sales tax ~ typically 5 - 10% of the value of good you purchase
5) Property tax ~ roughly 1% of the appraised value of your home. Appraised values vary widely from state to state, so this might mean $1800 in Las Vegas or $10,000 in Seattle. Not sure about S.F.
6) Vehicle licensing tax ~ varies from state to state
I can't say what percentage of my income taxes make up but they do add up.
Property tax is based on an assessed value but that is generally a percentage of market value. Property taxes in NV and CA are generally 1% of the market value. Get as high as 3 or 4% in some states.
I have!!! I rent out my home again in Las Vegas and I haved moved back to the bay many months ago. If I could sell my house in Vegas, I would and put that bad dream to rest. I will never travel to Vegas when there are already tons of casinos is Cali. By the way, housing like Vegas is affordable!!! 30 minutes out from SF, homes are going from $150,000.
Rents have came down and the weather is ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL. Also I forgot to mentioned California has the best doctors with the best education. This is something you will never see in Las Vegas. Oh by the way, last month for my 2 bedroom house that I rent for 1200.00 (20 min frm sf), my electricty and gas combined was $27.00; got to luv that!!!!!
Just about all the doctors I've seen over the years (even the kids' pediatricians) with the exception of a few, their licenses show they went to school in and did their residency in California.
So what are you talking about?
You don't have to come to Las Vegas any longer to make donations, be happy where you are and move on. Much good luck to you!
30 minutes out from SF, homes are going from $150,000.
30 minutes outside of SF? With the sprawl of the Bay Area..30 minutes doesn't get you very far...and 30 minutes away at $150,000...that certainly isn't half way to San Jose, it certainly isn't Marin County...and while some people might believe that about Oakland, it is actually quite expensive there, even in the dangerous areas.
A check on realtor.com brings up next to nothing under $150,000 for homes within 30 minutes from SF.
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