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Austin TX, vs. San Diego, help me

G

gotsmack

Diamond Member
I need help. I moved to San Diego at the end of Jan for a new job and I saw a promotion in Austin TX that closes tomorrow. I need help getting my head straight. In my gut I rank Austin slightly higher than SD for location, but the ultimate goal is to move to Portland OR so there is no benefit to moving now. If I move now I might be stuck in Austin for a while.

The details:
Me- 35, Single, no kids, not into the beach or sun.

Austin-

PRO:
job maxes out at $110k and no state income tax (so that is like $18k over SAN)
I have a few really good friends that live in Austin.
Maybe my imagination, but people in Austin are more interesting.
better food

CON:
1-3 months of 100+ degree weather
flooding is a minor concern
less in the area to do.


SD-

Pro:
3 days of 100 degree weather, but otherwise nice year round
Lots of stuff to do if I feel like driving.
Easier to move to Portland in a year

CON:
Job maxes out at 100k (VS 110k and no state tax in AUS)
Supposed small earthquakes and fires.
I know some people here, but we're not as close as my Austin friends.
Food scene is growing, but not as good as Austin.


So my gut is telling me to apply, but my brain is saying not to since I just got to SD and plan to move to Portland OR within the next 3 years.

There's nothing I dislike about San Diego, it's just that I find it easier to date in Austin and my close friends are there. My friends in Austin are saying that because it's growing so fast, in 5 years Austin might not be as fun and eclectic as it is now.


Thanks for listening and if you have any arguments to help talk me out of applying to Austin, please share it.
 
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The really fun Austin died ten years ago. Today it's been overrun by Cali transplants that ruined the unique vibe that originally appealed to them. Austin can be great if you don't have to commute (traffic is terrible) and you can afford to live in the city limits. Otherwise you will be lost in sprawl and sweating your ass off come June.

I live outside of Austin.
 
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It sounds like your answering your own question. If you look at what your writing its strongly positive for Austin.

Your lucky if you like Austin more then San Diego. The cost of living in San Diego is way higher, and your going to be making less money? Dang, Austin sounds like the right choice.

I often look at Texas but I love California too much to move. You really are lucky if you prefer Texas to California because California is really expensive.

Only you know why it would be easier to move to OR from CA instead of moving from TX to OR but if you could say why that would probably help.

You might be stuck in Austin for a while or you might be able to move to Portland in the future. But there is one thing for sure, you can get a promotion.
 
San Diego is shit, but I've never been to Austin. I was going to say that traffic might be reason to pick the latter, but if it's bad there too then I dunno.

100F days in San Diego are almost non-existent, but if you're worried about natural disasters, worry about the wild fires, not the earthquakes.
 
Just spent 6 days in San Diego... it was alright. Based on your description though, I would not move for $10k more... look for something more worth it, especially since it isn't your end game location.
 
I'm not sure if you were counting the 100+ days as a positive or negative. (?)

The one big thing I don't like about Austin is the heat in summer. August is my least favorite month. September seems like it will be a relief, but it doesn't really cool down much until October.
 
Gibsons- the heat is a negative. I'm not a fan of extreme heat or cold.

Tweak- it's closer to 18k more since there is no state income tax in TX.

HamburgerBoy- Traffic is getting bad in Austin because it is growing so fast. I 35 is a mess since it's only 2 lanes in each direction most of the time.

Soul- why is it the best city in the US? There are too many dudes here because of the Navy. It makes it harder to date.

Net- I only slightly perfer Austin over SD. It's because I have closer friends there and it seems like there are more hipsters in Austin. I like hipsters, they're interesting. It'll be easier to move to Portland if I stay in CA, because it's closer so my resume wil be screened out less frequently, the work in SD is more high profile, and I don't want to be seen as a job hopper.


Poof- thanks for your comments, it helps.
 
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Don't move to Austin. Its horrible. Worst traffic in the country it seems like. Crazy drivers from all over. 100+ in the summer with 80% humidity. Nasty allergy season.

No one should move to Austin. Seriously. Its so bad you should tell every one you know, every single person who will listen to not move to Austin.
 
leper84 said:
Don't move to Austin. Its horrible. Worst traffic in the country it seems like. Crazy drivers from all over. 100+ in the summer with 80% humidity. Nasty allergy season.

No one should move to Austin. Seriously. Its so bad you should tell every one you know, every single person who will listen to not move to Austin.
Click to expand...


Lol the way you put it, it sounds like you're just trying to keep people out of Austin.

True about the heat tho.
 
SAN DIEGO!!!!
But admittedly, it has changed and grown from that sleepy little touristy town on the bay to a mini L.A.
Expansion has consumed most all the open areas in the city, traffic has become a nightmare, housing costs are near San Francisco levels, and all the beaches are turning into gated communities.
But then again, it still has Blacks beach and their hang gliders. 😉
 
gotsmack said:
Gibsons- the heat is a negative. I'm not a fan of extreme heat or cold.
Click to expand...

You'll hate roughly mid July to mid September. It varies from year to year, but it's never great.

gotsmack said:
Lol the way you put it, it sounds like you're just trying to keep people out of Austin.

True about the heat tho.
Click to expand...

5571e67e8ec9cbdb913f34bfb4c67491.jpg
 
SD has great weather, traffic is nothing compared to L.A. You don't like the beach but some of the SD beach scene can be vibrant in terms of energy. I'm not talking about the sand, I don't like that aspect. If you like good Mexican food, it's there.
 
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soulcougher73 said:
This is a troll thread right? Lol San Diego best city in US lol
Click to expand...

If it wasn't in California, maybe. Being in California the highest it can get on the best city list is being the first California city after all cities in other states.

This is coming from someone that moved to California in 1974.

Austin, without question.

-KeithP
 
$100k - San Diego, CA
Comparable salary in
Austin, TX
$66,551

$110k - Austin, TX
Comparable salary in
San Diego, CA
$165,288


I don't see how this is a question.
 
Jaepheth said:
Austin has Google Fiber... so there's that.
Click to expand...

Depends on what part you are in. I don't have it near me, but my friend in a million dollar house has it. Unless you are willing to live in (kinda expensive) South Austin you don't get the full benefits of Austin like that.
 
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