Reply to Would you move to Seattle on $80K a year?

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[quote=Anonymous]I LOVE Seattle.  I lived there for several years and literally dream of moving back.  It's a wonderful city as far as quality of life.  I love the people, lifestyle, the landscape/nature. I love the weather--much more mild than here, not humid.  Lots of overcast days but less rain than here (contrary to myth).  I was much happier there.

However, it is not a cheap city to live in, especially real estate.  The thing about the economy there is that it is flooded with educated people and is oversaturated.  Typically, Seattle is hit hard by economic downturns and takes longer to recover.  It still hadn't recovered from the internet bubble bursting when the latest troubles started.  Seattle is such a wonderful place that people move there and want to live there even if they are underemployed.  Unemployment is quite high in Seattle and the surrounding area.  Washington state unemployment is usually close to the highest in the country.

Real estate is just about as expensive as here.  Salaries are not as high as here.  You'll likely pay less in childcare and other things but not housing.  Taking into account the high cost of housing, Seattle is usually ranked in the top three most expensive places to live, sometimes the first.  This is because of the high cost of living relative to the low pay.  Salaries are just so low there.  It's changing a little and depends on the field but this is generally true.  I'm a lawyer and my firm is a large nat'l firm (biglaw).  Our Seattle office salaries are ridiculously low.  I'm trying to find a job out there in my field where I can at least not take a big, big cut.

As to whether you should move--that is a hard call.  Lots of people live on $80K, it depends on what kind of lifestyle you want.  For me a huge question would be your DH's job.  Moving out there without one is ok but do your homework on his field out there or how willing he'd be to switch careers.  This economy is brutal--and we're largely insulated in DC compared to elsewhere.  Also really look at housing and what you could afford out there.  Renting may well be better than buying.

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