Why I chose Seattle over the Bay Area for Software Engineering (Bay Area vs Seattle)

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There's this narrative in the field of tech basically saying that if you want to be a top tier Software Engineer, you need to be in the Silicon Valley. In this video, I talk about why I chose to live in Seattle over Silicon Valley, how Seattle compares to the Bay Area and what life of a software engineer in Seattle is like. I will also discuss Seattle vs Bay Area salary, the weather in San Francisco compared to Seattle and the cost of living differences between San Francisco and Seattle. These are all things you might want to consider if you are faced with a similar decision.
Music:
Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@donl7737]

Great video! I've been preparing for interviews in order to switch job for 6 months or so... Half of my friends are in the bay area and the other half are in Seattle, while I'm all alone in the east coast. Been to both places multiple times but prefer Seattle a lot more.

[@NitrixTech]

Yeah it definitely depends on the person and your interests but Seattle suits me much better!

[@Mac_Raymond]

I feel like the comparison is pretty spot on. I've lived in the bay my whole life and have worked in tech the last 10. I have family and friends in the Seattle area and considering moving there a while once I vest my remaining RSUs.

[@NitrixTech]

You should definitely try it and see if you like it! The weather will be a bit of an adjustment for sure though haha

[@jhinukbarman119]

Thanks for the tips! I’m from the bay and considering moving to Seattle :)

[@NitrixTech]

They're definitely quite different but I'm glad I was able to provide some insight!

[@bigodespy]

That's extremely helpful, man!

[@aamariamason4562]

This was so entertaining 😂

[@NitrixTech]

Thanks :)

[@inchicago8739]

very nice! subscribed!

[@NitrixTech]

Thanks!!

[@TimTravelling101]

Not to split hairs here, the vast majority of what you said is spot on. But the Seattle Freeze is not about strangers being rude to you or just otherwise treating you bad to your face as I think I heard you surmise. It's actually much worse in the sense that people are actually overly nice to you, PRETENDING that they want to be your friend. But after maybe the third time of scheduling something with them where they enthusiastically accept the invitation, but then on the day of the event will be a no show and give a lame, flaky excuse of why they couldn't make it, is when you really start the feel the freeze. And BTW, if you had friends int he area already, you can never be frozen out like those people who move there without knowing anyone.

[@NitrixTech]

Honestly, that's a very good point, thanks for pointing it out. I will say that since moving back to the East Coast, the difference in the people I am meeting has become more apparent. And I definitely think quote: "The East Coast is kind but not nice, the West Coast is nice but not kind" is probably quite accurate

[@TimTravelling101]

@@NitrixTech Awesome phrase and so true!

[@SYDAirlineEnthusiast]

When I used to live in the bay, Seattle was a city I considered as it was nice when I took a trip down there. However, its not any different from the bay aside from seeing snow once or twice a year in the city, so I wanted to do New York City as it has a different vibe. Plus, Seattle has lots of homeless, while New York City does too, but mainly only in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn.

[@markstocker5121]

The city with most homeless I've ever seen is San Francisco. Not only that they were far more aggressive pan handlers than any in Seattle.

[@aimxdy8680]

@@markstocker5121For me it’s LA, the bay area doesn’t have much homelessness, it’s just is all concentrated in one neighborhood, go outside of downtown SF and it’s pretty nice.

[@alanf8609]

Nice video!

[@NitrixTech]

Thanks!

[@lavinder11]

I spent this entire video admiring your teeth. Wow they're nice lol Anyway, nice video. I'm not in tech at all (chemist turned? writer), but I'm trying to decide between Seattle and the Bay.

[@NitrixTech]

Thanks :P Hope this helped you come closer to a decision!

[@rileykinsey740]

I'm relocating from SoCal! can you speak on the crime rate, I've heard the property/theft crime is really high...thanks in advance.

[@NitrixTech]

I haven't had any bad experiences yet personally. However, the property crime rate is quite high, similar statistically to SF. The violent crime rates are very low which is why I feel fairly safe, but I am definitely always sure to triple check I never left any valuables in the car. Hope this is helpful and hope you enjoy Seattle!

[@Kelvo980908]

Just curious, how were you able to go to Whistler 5 times? Do you go on weekends? After watching your video, getting a SWE job in Seattle is actually my dream.

[@NitrixTech]

Hey! Yeah, driving up on the weekend is totally doable. If you leave around dinner time in Seattle you miss the rush hour traffic every step of the way and get to squamish around 10pm which is where I usually stay. Then you can ski Saturday and Sunday and return home for work Monday! I also went during christmas break and for some holidays. The current situation might make crossing the border however, this was before all that happened :)

[@artemicionkupo4367]

Im in seattle now...visiting... i must clearly stand out as a tourist, get stared at. I'm from the Bay Area. I'm not uncomfortable, im just a tourist but the staring as i walk by is like say something or ill start putting you on the spot.

[@chriscolumbia9579]

Love San Francisco, precisely because it is charming and has slightly better weather. You can live East Bay and find something less than the city. I also like being close to Los Angeles via Southwest. Seattle looks like a sterilized city, kind of like a hybrid between the hills of San Francisco and a much cleaner NYC. I would pick either SF, Seattle or even Portland over anything back east though. But the Bay area overall has everything and is the best.

[@NitrixTech]

I definitely really like both cities! Currently Seattle suits my priorities more but in the future, I might be more leaning towards San Francisco

[@delongtsway953]

I'm from Seattle and I don't really like the people there. I moved to San Francisco and feel more accepted there and around international people which I like. If I had to pick a second choice it would be Vancouver B.C.

[@NitrixTech]

@@delongtsway953 I lived in Vancouver as well and it's a great city. The diversity is awesome, the food is unbelievable and the nature in the area is amazing!

[@delongtsway953]

thanks for agreeing on vancouver.

[@sproulja]

"East coast Canada" I just LOLed.

[@NitrixTech]

Maybe a slight exaggeration haha. But just north of east coast US :p

[@X4Y7Z0]

Can we get a short update? Any cities nearby Seattle that have caught your eye?

[@dmitrygerenrot9765]

It’s not true that “it’s sunny,like, 3 days a year.” I had my share of sunny weekends. I actually was able to get out in just a long-sleeve T-shirt in January., for about 30 minutes.

[@NitrixTech]

Yeah I completely agree. I think there are plenty of beautiful days each year!

[@TheUltimateGeminiHasSurvived]

If you get a FAANG job in Seattle now, will you be able to move there? I don’t want to particularly want to work remotely...

[@NitrixTech]

If you have work authorization, you can move to seattle but I believe all of the FAANG offices are closed so you'll have to work from your house in Seattle for the time being

[@TheUltimateGeminiHasSurvived]

@@NitrixTech I am Canadian, so do they still give a Visa/TN Visa even if you would be working remotely for X amount of time?

[@jasnaandrejevic4591]

Great! Promašio si profesiju 😉.

[@NitrixTech]

Haha hvala mama!

[@isidora038]

@@NitrixTech Slazem se! :)

[@anthonyb7571]

So this is what a techie looks and acts like

[@NitrixTech]

This is what at least one of us looks and acts like

[@ZainabEssbai]

oh thanks for the great video I want to start my career in the US after graduating as a cybersecurity engineer (in France) and I've been debating whether to focus on applying to jobs in Seattle only or the bay area only. Now my question is when did you start applying for jobs in the US?

[@NitrixTech]

Started applying for internships during school which is easier to obtain the visa for! For after graduation, I was applying about 8 months before I graduated although Canadians do have a separate visa which made it a bit easier!

[@braydenbronstein1190]

Because you’re coming from Europe I as a Seattleite tell you to come here to Seattle. It’s cheaper than The Bay Area, we have no state income taxes, very low corporate, very good soon to be universal healthcare, very good public education, good public infrastructure, good coffee and craft beer, good food and extremely gorgeous scenery. Plus tech companies are flocking here

[@ZainabEssbai]

@@NitrixTech thank you for your response. I have the papers figured out. All there is for me to do is to choose where to go. I think after all I might start in France first since my intership is a pre-employment offer. I'll gain experience for a couple of years then go to the US.

[@ZainabEssbai]

@@braydenbronstein1190 that is very promising. I've always liked Seattle's lifestyle and it would definitely be fit for me. Thank you for your insight, it means a lot to me to get feedback from a Seattleite. I'm hanging back in France just for the free medical care and the many perks the country has to offer to its residents. Moving to the U.S. is a childhood dream and i would love for it to become a better place for me to have a better life.

[@braydenbronstein1190]

@@ZainabEssbai Wonderful to hear that you like the city🙂 Granted the changes to healthcare won’t make it free like in France, but it’s an affordable public insurance option funded by the State, so it will be like the Swiss system basically. I’m pretty certain that if you have the right qualifications, you can find a good paying tech job quickly. There’s a lot more of those opportunities here than in France for example, considering giants like Amazon and Microsoft are headquartered here, and others like Google (Alphabet), Facebook, Apple and others have a ever expanding and active presence here. The East Link Expansion will also be completed in 2023-2024, so you won’t even need a car to commute between your work and home, you just use the rail and your bicycle. Extremely rare for a US city. Also, you will deeply appreciate our nature, wildlife and scenery, one of the most beautiful in the US. The National Parks here are gorgeous and well protected, just look up Mt.Rainier NP, North Cascades and Olympic NP. A lot of outdoor activities to do, like hiking, windsurfing, camping and mountain biking:)

[@alfredosauri]

Thumbs up Bro! I like your attitude on adaptability, I'm a Sr. PM in Software Dev and moved here from Dallas 9 years ago, I have to say that out of everyplace that I have lived and worked in Seattle have I formed the best working relationships and friends even more than in Texas where everyone talks to everyone, here when it comes down to that level it is genuine, good luck!

[@NitrixTech]

Very much agree, I have had a great time here so far. Good luck to you as well and I hope you continue to enjoy it here!

[@xuphys]

I believe you have miscalculated California's state income tax. If you are single and make $100k per year, you roughly pay $6000 to the state, not $25000.

[@NitrixTech]

Yeah the math is confusing. I meant 17k in rent + additional state tax is roughly 25k per year. I said it in a confusing way 🙂

[@SundasKhalid]

I will pick Seattle any day over Bay Area. The commute alone is a deal breaker. Also, you are right, I have also observed that Seattle seems to have more senior engineers roles.

[@daboss6614]

Thats cause the bay area has way more engineers and overall talent

[@simonabangan3980]

I thought i was the only one seattle and vancouver look very identical to me

[@deepeshsingh7717]

Wait, how much was your pay for both jobs?

[@NitrixTech]

I'm hesitant to disclose exact amounts but junior engineer salaries at these large tech companies are fairly public nowadays, so it is not difficult to find a fairly accurate estimate 🙂

[@TheZhamal]

I was debating between San Fran or Seattle. Seattle it is thank you so much!!

[@NitrixTech]

You're welcome! 🙂

[@delongtsway953]

San Francisco is better. I grew up in Seattle and I think it's shit. San Francisco wouldn't have had a dumb CHAZ.

[@TheZhamal]

Delong Tsway I stayed in San Fran with my uncle for a few days and I loved it. My big issue with SF is the wild fires, which I think will only get worse. Love the rain and nature that Seattle offers. Plus it is less expensive, so Seattle wins

[@gagankalra4555]

Please tell whether university of Toronto provide aid for bachelor in cs

[@NitrixTech]

They provide aid for all canadian students who require it, I'm not exactly 100% sure if they provide it for international students

[@_gurmeetkaur8592]

@@NitrixTech Tahnk you so much for your reply. You are doing a great by providing awareness among the students and people around the globe. BTW i am an internatinal student

[@NitrixTech]

@@_gurmeetkaur8592 No problem, good luck with your applications!

[@KishanPatel-zj6bl]

Did you go to Waterloo cs?

[@NitrixTech]

Nah, I did computer engineering at U of T

[@KishanPatel-zj6bl]

@@NitrixTech is it good there?

[@NitrixTech]

Pretty tough program but I liked being in downtown Toronto and it provides decent connections for internships and jobs

[@WhyJustWhy2000]

Grey all the time? Never talking to strangers? Seattle sounds just like Britain :)

[@NitrixTech]

From what I heard, that sounds about right :P

[@bigdurr6609]

Is Seattle a safe city to walk in

[@NitrixTech]

Good question, the city is changing like every other city. I would say many neighbourhoods are relatively safe to walk in, but it does have increasing problems with small crime, and it has a large homeless population, similar to many cities on the west coast

[@AdamWong]

remind me of jarvis johnson

[@NitrixTech]

I'll take that as a compliment since I like his videos lol

[@brandonheald9624]

"Everybody hates everybody". Can attest, Probably moving to San Jose at some point. Also, the crime here is awful right now.

[@NitrixTech]

Everyone has their properties haha. I think petty crime in the west coast cities is bad in general :/

[@realmellomusic9372]

I'm looking from moving to Seattle from San Jose 😂

[@bashmohandes]

I have been a SWE in Seattle for over 10 years, I worked for companies where their HQ is in SV, but I chose to live in Seattle, I just don't see the appeal in SF and Bay area.

[@NitrixTech]

Yup Im in the same boat!

[@delongtsway953]

It's more historical and cultural than Seattle. Seattle is not very international and mature as a city.

[@bashmohandes]

Delong Tsway I understand, although I couldn't care less

[@NitrixTech]

I think there definitely more culture. It mostly depends on what your preferences are since people have different things they value

[@delongtsway953]

@@NitrixTech As an immigrant I can tell you that Seattle has absolutely no culture at all. All the culture that they do have is just from being depressed and drugs. For west coast cities San Francisco has the most culture. Moving somewhere for work does not mean that it has culture or a soul.

[@Brown597]

I Wanna come to Seattle for engineering 💥💥💥

[@NitrixTech]

Good luck!!! :)

[@Brown597]

@@NitrixTech is it that hard for a student in electronic engineering and thanks man 💥

[@NitrixTech]

@@Brown597 I don't know a lot about the electrical engineering job market here in Seattle unfortunately

[@matviyk3066]

Nahh, Seattle sucks. The weather makes you want to jump off 520 unless you are making over 400k annually. Let them stay in Cali, Washington Is only for the natives to move back in. You guys can only come visit for no more than a week per year and can only work here if you plan to stay in your home and work remotely outside of king county. It’s too congested and the infrastructure is far to behind(light rails are not getting done anytime soon), it has lot to catch up with all you tech bros moving in at an alarming rate.

[@NitrixTech]

Good point, completely agree about the infrastructure

[@lizk5994]

You exaggerated a bit with the rent in SF. 1 bedroom is definitely cheaper than $3500. Check your stats bro

[@NitrixTech]

I think this was average at the time. Seems like the average is more similar to 3k now based on a quick Google search but I'm sure it's possible to find much cheaper

[@ajayghuge4261]

Hii

[@NitrixTech]

Hello! :)

[@WitikoAmor]

I clicked because topic but stayed because cute.

[@hannahm3852]

Seattle is awesome

[@marcinr5827]

Bay area has nice beaches? Where o.O

[@NitrixTech]

lol I mean comparatively, it's at least within driving distance lol

[@Gamabunta24345]

SF weather is just as bad. Also screw income tax.

[@NitrixTech]

True and true 🙂

[@samuelattias148]

New NHL Rivalry and Worse Tha 49ers-Seahawks

[@NitrixTech]

Everyone here is looking forward to the kraken haha

[@samuelattias148]

Okay

[@michaels9612]

Lost me at friends

[@NitrixTech]

😂😂

[@IMPULSOESTATICO]

Team Seattle 😎

[@makhengfai]

Talk too much Get to the point

[@NitrixTech]

Thanks for the feedback, will do

[@tabeebyeamin9986]

@@NitrixTech I thought you were fine lol