Made the transition from SV to Brooklyn. Wages are basically the same, housing is much more affordable (our apartment would be at least 2k more per month in San Francisco), and there are people here who do things that are not tech! Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of startups and great companies with offices in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but it's SO refreshing to be around people who don't just want to pitch their startup or talking about growth hacking.
I'm very happy with the change. I do miss the beauty of the pacific northwest, but otherwise it's been great.
Sorry but I LOLed. I would've never believed you had I not made the same move, but in reverse. I lived in a good 2BR apartment in the best part of Manhattan downtown -- we even had a fireplace (but no fire escape...such is the situation with old Manhattan construction)...Now I live in Palo Alto. In a converted garage. And while it is technically a 1 bedroom, it is much, much more than what I paid for in New York. Quality of life is much worse in Palo Alto too.
Wow, your housing in Brooklyn is MORE affordable vs SV? What neighborhood are you in? Brooklyn has some of the highest housing costs in the country and is on par with Manhattan at times depending on the neighborhood.
I'm very happy with the change. I do miss the beauty of the pacific northwest, but otherwise it's been great.