Verified by 
A client of mine was offered a promotion and she and I were planning her negotiation. I started by listing possible items to negotiate: cash, stock, 401k match, title, job description, reporting, admin support, and training budget.
After we discussed those, I asked her whether there was anything else she wanted to negotiate? She said something like, “I want to continue to work remotely. That’s especially important because I'm sick of living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I can buy a lovely home in a safe, clean town a few hours away for $300,000. That house here costs over $1,000,000. The taxes, like property tax, sales tax, toll roads and bridges, are killing me. And if I can move, I get the freedom of being able to get where I want without the crazy traffic, where we all sit barely moving."
The employer turned down nearly all her requests . . . except to work remotely. That’s understandable: If she was good enough to be promoted, the boss doesn’t feel the need to monitor her in-person. And whatever benefit accrues from having her in the office is outweighed by not having to give her an office and her being fresh at work instead of coming in tired because a stressful commute.
That scenario is playing out ever more. In 2020, her state, California saw the largest out-migration in history.
Of course, moving away from a high-cost metropolis and working remotely isn’t for everyone. The following questions may help you figure out what’s right for you. Allocate 100 points to the following to match your priorities:
Characteristics of living in a metropolis
On average, there is:
- Fast pace
- Educated populace
- More in-person shopping choices
- More sophisticated arts choices
- More sophisticated restaurant choices
- Proximity to more places of employment
- More racial and ethnic diversity
- More prestige
- More liberal political climate
Characteristics of living away from a metropolis
On average, there is:
- Lower cost of housing and taxes
- Healthier air
- More relaxed pace of life
- Less traffic
- Less noise (from traffic, construction, airplanes, etc.)
- Safer community and schools
- Friendlier community
- Easier access to nature
- More conservative political climate
The takeaway
Major decisions such as where to live are often based heavily on gut feeling, but perhaps considering a full range of factors will help you make a decision that you’ll be happy with.
I read this aloud on YouTube.
