[london-boy]

Hello guys!

I am looking at options to move to the US to work. Not sure how long, but the most likely scenario will be New York (where i would assume i'd get a higher salary but also much higher costs).
B3D is pretty much the only place i know with a relatively vast US audience, one that is unlikely to lie to my face or give me wrong advice, so please help!!

The idea is to have the same (or better) lifestyle as i do now.

Now, with the mess in exchange rates, financial meltdowns, war, famine, global warming, you name it, i have absolutely no idea what kind of salary i should be looking for. I don't think that a straight conversion of my earnings would translate very well, so how do we go about this?

I live on my own in central london. I go out every weekend, pretty much. I eat out way too much for my own good. I have around 4 holidays per year (two big ones and two or more long weekends here and there). I save absolutely nothing, in fact i'm lucky if i don't fall into debt at the end of the month...

Thanks guys!!

[Mize]

Manhattan's cost of living is comparable to London's and salaries tend to be 30-100% higher in the US. Keep in mind you'll have to buy health insurance if you want it though.

[london-boy]

Originally Posted by Mize

salaries tend to be 30-100% higher in the US.

Sorry i don't understand that! What do you mean?

[Mize]

Originally Posted by london-boy

Sorry i don't understand that! What do you mean?

For a given job, let's say "regional sales manager," you'll tend to find the US job pays 30-100% more than the same job in London.

[Davros]

Wouldn't San Francisco Be a better choice

[london-boy]

Originally Posted by Mize

For a given job, let's say "regional sales manager," you'll tend to find the US job pays 30-100% more than the same job in London.

You mean in UK pounds exchanged to US dollars? i.e. if i get 50k UK£ i should be looking at 65-100k US$? That's quite a large spread...

Originally Posted by Davros

Wouldn't San Francisco Be a better choice

I know that everyone here wants to see a picture of me roaming the streets of San Fran in leather chaps, cigar in one hand and beer in the other, but no thanks!!

[Grall]

Originally Posted by london-boy

I know that everyone here wants to see a picture of me roaming the streets of San Fran in leather chaps, cigar in one hand and beer in the other, but no thanks!!

Assless leather chaps, just to clarify our collective wishes...

Personally, I find NY to be crowded, noisy, polluted and pretty much contrary to every human instinct there is, but then again the same can be said about London, and if you enjoy it there then I suppose NY would be at least as good as a substitute, heh.

SF does have a more enjoyable atmosphere tho, I'd say. More varied surroundings, not quite so sterile somehow. You also get to see the ocean more easily, considering the entire city isn't completely flat. (And you get the chilly breezes even in the height of summer and the fog as a bonus! wheee!)

[Mize]

Originally Posted by london-boy

You mean in UK pounds exchanged to US dollars? i.e. if i get 50k UK£ i should be looking at 65-100k US$? That's quite a large spread...

Or more.

For example, I worked with a multinational where our UK outside sales guys made 35-40 UK£ while their counterparts in the US were making $75-100k. The UK folks had nicer company cars though.

[John Reynolds]

Someone's apparently gone through all the gay men he can find in the UK and is now seeking a new continent for his sexual questing.

[london-boy]

Originally Posted by John Reynolds

Someone's apparently gone through all the gay men he can find in Europe and is now seeking a new continent for his sexual questing.

Corrected.

[Sonic]

No. We don't want to see you in assless leather chaps. They're a dime a dozen around here, well not really, but some days it feels that way. San Francisco has a high cost of living, comparable to Manhattan in NYC. Oakland, Daly City, Alameda County, are comparable to the boroughs of NYC in a sense they are cheaper to live in but still close to the action.

What is your job exactly, what do you do? NYC has a wealth of gay men you can use at your disposal. I'd think it has more gay men than SF just be sheer population numbers alone. If you're all about getting up and going out for the night either city would be fine, if you want to be on the go constantly and having a very fast going lifestyle than definitely NYC. If you are the more chill kind and want to lay back and relax then SF all the way. The air is cleaner here, or it smells cleaner, and we have just as many crazies (percentage wise of course), and mountains, and the Pacific ocean which is better than the Atlantic.

[Grall]

Originally Posted by Sonic

and the Pacific ocean which is better than the Atlantic.

Just that you can go to a fish restaurant and order a nice slab of freshly grilled Mahi Mahi means you got something different going on than the ol' cod and salmon of the atlantic...

[london-boy]

Originally Posted by Grall

Assless leather chaps, just to clarify our collective wishes...

Originally Posted by Sonic

NYC has a wealth of gay men you can use at your disposal. I'd think it has more gay men than SF just be sheer population numbers alone.

Originally Posted by Davros

How about Minnesota, it has a Judy Garland Museum

Davros wonders if LB is the Guardian of the "Sacred Terabyte of Gaymen Goodness™"

Good Lord, is this the reputation i have on here? I'm scared now. I'd like to reassure you that i'm not like Jack from Will&Grace but i'm not sure you'll believe me by now...

Guys, i would not be moving because of the density of gays in one area (even though the old rule is, the more the better).

Sonic darling,
I'm a commercial account executive in a very large private jet company. the title is a bit of a mystery - no one ever knows what that entails, even me sometimes - so to cut a long story short i oversee all commercial decisions in the Italian, French and Spanish markets. Customer retention, new business, basically trying to get the best deal for our clients and prospects. And a few other bits and pieces. Lots of travelling, client meetings, headaches and all that.


PS: i do have a pair of assless leather chaps, now that i think about it! OMG maybe i am the Guardian of the "Sacred Terabyte of Gaymen Goodness™"

[Grall]

Originally Posted by london-boy

Good Lord, is this the reputation i have on here? I'm scared now.

Haha! Mission accomplished, it seems!

[Simon F]

Is the number of paid days of holiday in the US still quite low?

[Mize]

If he's on a London groove, Manhattan is the only way to go.

[Davros]

How about Minnesota, it has a Judy Garland Museum

Davros wonders if LB is the Guardian of the "Sacred Terabyte of Gaymen Goodness™"

[trinibwoy]

It kinda depends on what sort of work you do and what crowd you roll with. If you don't spend much time in your apt and just need a place to crash then you can swing a pad somewhere in the city for $1500-$1800. Manhattan life can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. It mostly boils down to who you're trying to impress Spending your entire paycheck definitely helps though.

[Mize]

You will love New York.

[slider]

Originally Posted by Mize

You will love New York.

It's a great city for those of a certain slant (me included).

Outside of the big cities you seem to be able to get a lot more property for your money too.

[Mize]

How do you think it is that American workers have the "highest efficiency" of Western work forces? Fewer holidays.

Of course if you're a key person or owner you have a lot more flexibility.

[london-boy]

Originally Posted by Mize

How do you think it is that American workers have the "highest efficiency" of Western work forces? Fewer holidays.

Of course if you're a key person or owner you have a lot more flexibility.

Certainly explains why you're all crazy!! j/k

[Mize]

Originally Posted by london-boy

Certainly explains why you're all crazy!! j/k

No doubt.

Seriously though, if you're floated an offer and you KNOW they want you, you can push hard for more time off. Most companies won't go over 5 weeks (25 days), but the difference between two weeks (10 days) and five weeks is huge for keeping the spiders at bay.

[london-boy]

Originally Posted by Mize

No doubt.

Seriously though, if you're floated an offer and you KNOW they want you, you can push hard for more time off. Most companies won't go over 5 weeks (25 days), but the difference between two weeks (10 days) and five weeks is huge for keeping the spiders at bay.

Massive difference. Come on, i have things to do, people and places to see! 2 weeks just aint gonna cut it

[Mize]

Well, based on your paragraph resume, you should be in a position to insist on 5 weeks.