You dont want to go to georgia if you are non-native! Plus the public school sustem there sucks. You cannot afford san jose/bay area. Stay in moco or howard co. You will do fine with $120k. At least the public schools are good!

My DH makes that much and when I go back to work we will be up to 200. If you choose Bethesda, certain parts of Silver Spring or Rockville might work. It won't be easy though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd go where there are the most of your type of job so that you're not chained to one employer once you're rooted in an area. You can definitely find a nice place, commuting distance to Bethesda with enough space for 3 ppl on $120k. But Atlanta does have cost of living advantages.

OP here: Thanks for the info. We're fine with living further out. That's not an issue at all.

OP, you sound so nice. Come to Bethesda! Also Atlanta is not as nice a city as DC / Bethesda. Then again, T will be here soon.

You must not know anything about Atlanta.

Atlanta has a lot to offer.

OP - if I were you, I would go to Atlanta.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd go where there are the most of your type of job so that you're not chained to one employer once you're rooted in an area. You can definitely find a nice place, commuting distance to Bethesda with enough space for 3 ppl on $120k. But Atlanta does have cost of living advantages.

OP here: Thanks for the info. We're fine with living further out. That's not an issue at all.

OP, you sound so nice. Come to Bethesda! Also Atlanta is not as nice a city as DC / Bethesda. Then again, T will be here soon.

Anonymous wrote:I'd go where there are the most of your type of job so that you're not chained to one employer once you're rooted in an area. You can definitely find a nice place, commuting distance to Bethesda with enough space for 3 ppl on $120k. But Atlanta does have cost of living advantages.

OP here: Thanks for the info. We're fine with living further out. That's not an issue at all.

I'd go where there are the most of your type of job so that you're not chained to one employer once you're rooted in an area. You can definitely find a nice place, commuting distance to Bethesda with enough space for 3 ppl on $120k. But Atlanta does have cost of living advantages.

Tech money has really distorted the whole San Jose to San Francisco area. Real estate prices are nuts, and you'd have a hard time on that salary. Check the prices for where you'd want to live.

Are you telecommuting in those cities or are you travelling to work? What salary do teachers make in those cities (there are sometimes large discrepancies in teacher salaries).

I would be more inclined to say Atlanta or Bethesda. San Jose is really expensive. While Bethesda proper is expensive, you can live in a great neighborhood relatively close (maybe Olney or Columbia) and the teachers salaries in MD are fairly competitive. I know the cost of living in Atlanta is a little less, but I am not super familiar with the areas or the schools.

You will be miserable in Bethesda on that salary.

The only choice is Atlanta.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:San Jose will be very expensive. Atlanta probably has the lowest COL on your list, but traffic is very bad, so you have to be careful with location of housing to the job. Is the offer 120k regardless of location?

126k in San Jose. Once my wife goes back to work we will be at 175k.

that is still not enough for San Jose or Bethesda OP. Go to Atlanta.

I spend every week in San Jose but live in DC. You can't afford the real estate taxes on a portopotty there on $120.

We make it work on the same $120k, I work FT, spouse PT. We bought in Takoma Park MD. Used cars too!

Anonymous wrote:Op, we were making 120k on TWO salaries when we bought in DC several years ago. You could make Bethesda work, probably easiest by living in Silver Spring. I agree that San Jose is insanely expensive. I'm from that part of CA and if that is really the job you'd prefer, I'd recommend looking into a long commute. At least your wife will be home, which makes that commute possible (but not ideal).

People act like no one in DC or SJ earns less than 200k. Lots of people do; we just need to make more adjustments to make it work.

Op here: I agree but maybe they have lots of debt or it's a lifestyle thing? We have zero debt and live below our means. We also always buy used cars.

Op, we were making 120k on TWO salaries when we bought in DC several years ago. You could make Bethesda work, probably easiest by living in Silver Spring. I agree that San Jose is insanely expensive. I'm from that part of CA and if that is really the job you'd prefer, I'd recommend looking into a long commute. At least your wife will be home, which makes that commute possible (but not ideal).

People act like no one in DC or SJ earns less than 200k. Lots of people do; we just need to make more adjustments to make it work.

You can't afford San Jose. Go to Atlanta. You need third tier cities. Parts of New Jersey would work.