[R1CED`]

Clams, that was a good read.

Home-owning is the last thing on my mind as I'll be furthering my education but even I'd consider skipping town when I come close to settling down.

If I'm going to pay a premium on everything, might as well be SoCal's sunshine tax where it's not doom/gloom rain for majority of the year. Think about it, you can enjoy your car year-round and not having to store your weekend car for half a year. You don't get raped by gas/insurance prices. It doesn't have to be LA where the traffic is garbage...'burbs with young families would be fine. I don't mind cookiecutter homes, not like vancouver's any more diverse. Job situation for young professionals won't be drastically different...that probably goes for a lot of field unless you're in the tech or hospitality industry. Income tax will be splitting hairs but there's less BS taxes in general. I have immediate family in the US and it shocks me how much more we pay for day-to-day stuff even if it's not straight apples to apples comparsion. I don't go skiing or downhill biking much so I'm not missing out much the PNW has to offer....sure I will miss some friends and diverse food/cheap sushi...that's about it. Healthcare is fine as long as you're not working class w/o a plan and I can always come back if need be...you actually get better care in US with a decent plan. Did I mention affordable airfare not just limited to smelly Alligiant?

Grass is greener on the other side (pun unintended) and I'm sure I'm naively forgetting other invisible factors but in before someone says shit food for the masses and exposing oneself to gun violence (though Cali has stupid strict gun laws).

I'm in my mid-20's and obviously only been in the workforce for a few years. I'm far from worldly but I've had a good chunk of childhood in asia and have quite a few Amerifriends. I've lived here for most of my life but all the little things that irk me adds up are making me question if it's actually worth the premium.