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Tech Who Swore Off the Bay is Coming Back – A blog about the tech industry and the Bay Area
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Reasons for leaving
I’m sure you’ve all heard of the “tech exodus” that’s been happening lately. People are getting sick of the high cost of living and long hours, so they’re leaving the Bay Area in droves. But what are the reasons for leaving, and is it really worth it? Let’s take a look.
The cost of living
The high cost of living is one of the main reasons people are leaving the Bay Area, according to a new poll.
The poll, conducted by the Bay Area Council, found that 42 percent of respondents said the cost of living was the main reason they were considering leaving the region.
Housing costs were cited as the biggest problem, with 32 percent of respondents saying they couldn’t afford a home in the Bay Area.
Other reasons people cited for leaving included traffic (16 percent), the slow pace of life (14 percent), and crime (8 percent).
The culture
I’ve been in the Valley for six years, and I can say that the culture here does not make it an ideal place to live long term. There are a lot of great things about the Valley — the weather, the food, the people — but there are also some not-so-great things. The cost of living is high, and it’s difficult to find affordable housing. The traffic is terrible, and it’s hard to get around without a car. And, most importantly, the culture is not conducive to a healthy work-life balance.
The culture in the Valley is one that values work above all else. It’s not uncommon for people to work 80-hour weeks, and it’s not uncommon for people to feel like they need to work all the time in order to be successful. This can lead to burnout, and it can make it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
I left the Valley because I was no longer willing to sacrifice my mental and physical health for my career. I wanted to live in a place where I could have a more balanced lifestyle, and where I didn’t feel like I needed to work all the time in order to be successful.
The commute
In the Bay Area, the average commute is nearly an hour. That’s an hour wasted sitting in traffic, or on a packed train. For many people, that commute is simply too long. They’d rather spend an hour with their family or friends, or doing something they love. So they leave.
Reasons for returning
After years in the Bay, I swore I’d never come back. The constant hustle, the greed, the pollution- it was all too much. But as it turns out, there are a few things that I miss about the Bay. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
The cost of living
Bay Area residents are no strangers to the high cost of living. In recent years, the region has become increasingly unaffordable for many people, especially as salaries have failed to keep pace with the soaring cost of housing.
For tech workers, who are often paid relatively well, the cost of living can still be a challenge. In San Francisco, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is more than $3,500 per month, according to Zillow. And in nearby Silicon Valley cities like Palo Alto and Mountain View, rents are even higher.
In addition to the high cost of housing, Bay Area residents also have to contend with the high cost of healthcare, child care, and transportation. According to a recent study by the Bay Area Council, the region’s high cost of living is one of the main reasons why people are leaving.
In recent years, there has been a significant exodus of residents from the Bay Area to more affordable parts of California and other states. This trend is likely to continue as the region’s affordability crisis shows no signs of abating.
The culture
The culture is one of the main reasons I’m returning to the Bay. I’m a very social person, and I thrive in environments where I can collaborate with others and have mentorship opportunities. The Bay has a wealth of resources and experienced professionals, and I’m looking forward to being able to tap into that again.
The commute
The commute is one of the biggest reasons people leave the Bay Area. As housing prices have skyrocketed, so has the cost of living, and many workers are finding themselves spending hours in traffic just to get to and from work.
According to a study by the Bay Area Council, the average commuter in the region spends almost $4,000 a year on transportation costs, and that number is only going up. With gas prices and public transit fares both on the rise, many workers are struggling to make ends meet.
Adding to the frustration is the fact that the Bay Area’s public transit system is often overcrowded and unreliable. Bus and train lines are constantly being delayed or cancelled, leaving commuters stranded.
All of these factors combine to make the Bay Area an increasingly difficult place to live for many people. The high cost of living, long commute times and unreliable public transit are just some of the reasons why people are choosing to leave the region.
