Is America a good country to live in? Should I move back? Which city?

[BWClark]

My wife and I currently live in New Zealand. I was born in the US and I am still a citizen, but have not lived there since I was 18. Recently married, we are thinking of moving there before we have kids and while our commitments are low. It will never be easier than now to move to another country.

She is a dentist, and I have been an investor/stockbroker with my own business for about 5 years or so. She hates dentistry, and so the fact that her New Zealand qualifications are not transferable to the US is really a good excuse to change careers. I like my line of work, but I would have to wrap things up here to move back. No big loss on my part either. Things have been going slow for me and it seems New Zealanders don't really like investing in the stockmarket like Americans do. I would have to work for someone there to get established and learn the ropes and get the US qualifications, but I feel if I set up business again while I'm there I'd do much better.

Our frustration with NZ is we feel under-appreciated. She is earning as much as she will ever earn as a dentist, and I just don't feel like I'm reaching my potential here. It's a great place to live in many ways. The air is clear, the country is beautiful, and it is a great place to live an easy life. Painters and cafe workers and "menial" workers (no judgements attached) are paid quite well here. They are paid so well in fact, I have debated a career change out of investments and into house painting. Professionals, by contrast, hit an earnings ceiling quite quickly. Essentially the culture is farming, and people appreciate tangible, down to earth occupations, and overlook more academic/esoteric jobs, IMO.

Also, it's not that cheap to live here. Anything remotely "luxury" can be very expensive. An average new car is about $40k here, which is also the average annual salary. I imagine that the US is cheaper from this standpoint. Healthcare is where NZ wins. It is essentially free here. I know this is definitely not the case in the US.

But I know life can be hard in the US too. It is quite possible to work 70 hours/week and have long commute times. That doesn't interest me either. We need balance. Overall, I think with our work ethic and professionalism we will do very well in America, but I'm interested to hear what you guys think. Which cities should we consider? I have some links in San Fran and LA, and I could maybe find a link or two in NY, but that's a stretch.

How do you find living in the USA? We really need help with this...

Thanks!

[Vindingo]

I have never lived anywhere else, so I am a little bias.

The US is huge compared to NZ.  There are a lot of cities that are very different.  Do you want to live inside of one of the big cities, or live in the burbs around them?  I would think that both of your proffesions would afford a comfy lifestyle here, but you mentioned you wanted to change them.   

Why dont you go on a month long holiday, travel around and check the place out!   

[eltristo]

If you enjoy the clean air, LA can find itself lacking.  Certainly opportunities are not lacking in any of the cities you have mentioned thus far. SF is full of crazy people, as evidenced by a large section of this forum.  

Commuting is crappy everywhere, IMO.  

Really, everything I have said is useless, and I'm just realizing it.  Guess I'll have another drink.


[added]
+1 on Vin's comment.  I have actually lived in many of the states, and been happy in every one, but your opinions may vary greatly.

[desmoquattro]

You take the good with the bad. I think the fact that salaries are a little closer together in NZ is somewhat appealing. I mean, who the hell says that what you or I do is intrinsically any more valuable than the guy who makes that amazing cappucino that wakes me up in the morning? Markets are often not rational 

I think you summed things up pretty well. Your salary may go up, but more and more of it will be consumed by commuting, inflated prices on some goods (gas, etc), and healthcare. Your quality of life will probably go down. And don't let them tell you off the cufff that we pay a lot less in taxes...between fees, sales taxes, and payroll taxes, the middle class here is probably taxed at similar overall rates to Europe. Check the numbers on that before you make a decision.

Of course, I've never been to NZ. Aus was a great experience, and I'd certainly consider living there (as much as they make fun of you kiwis). But I'm most comfortable in the US...it's my home, and I think things are going to have to change. We'll see.

Oh, and +1 on the comments above. Come over and spend some time. We'll show you around and maybe get you on a ride or two.

[tangueroHondo]

I am of the opinion that certain places are appropriate to live in during certain periods of your life.  I grew up in Canada, near Toronto.  Great place to grow up and take advantage of subsidized education and other things.  However, in my line of work (clinical research), in the big earning years of life 25-55, it's been much better for me in the US.  We moved to the US when I was 28.  I live near Seattle now and really like it.  Wages are higher, earnings are taxed at a much lower rate (Washington State doesn't even have income tax) and we have found it easier to save money than in Canada.  You probably know about mortage interest deduction rules in the US.  My company did green cards for my family.  We are all dual citizens now.  However, when I retire (I'm  44 now) we'll probably move back to Canada.  It's just more advantageous to live there as a retired person, than the US.  We are sending our children back to Canada for University. 

I pick and choose my opportunities.  Just my opinion. 

We have made many dear friends in the US.  I think that Americans are a very accepting and generous people.  Don't be mislead by the media and their magnification of the exceptions.

[sqweak]

FWIW
The three cities you mentioned are amongst the most populated and expensive cities to live in in the US.  Not exactly the best idea to come to any of them without substantial savings if either (or both) of you are going to take some transition time to switch fields, get local certifications, etc.  Real Estate prices are very high, and at the salary levels you're talking about (even adjusted for US market rates) you probably couldn't afford to purchase.

As everyone else said: do some research and identify *what* you're looking for in a destination, we'll be happy to make some recommendations based on that.  Come visit, see if it works for you, and then work on the move.

some broad generalizations:
SF is more progressive/liberal.  Multicultural.  Climate in the actual city is mild year round.  Can actually be pretty gloomy a lot of the time.  Lots of tech jobs, pretty decent financial center.

LA is a mish-mash.  Very populated, but spread out amongst ~100 mi^2 of sprawl.  Much warmer than SF.  Main industry is entertainment (Film/TV/Radio/etc) and associated industries (lawyers, agents, etc).  Some financial work.

Both have great access to motorcycling roads & tracks.  Beaches and "fun in the sun" ocean stuff is more LA than SF.

NYC is the melting pot.  Largest city in the US crammed into an island 2 miles wide by 8 miles long.  Very multicultural.  TONS of financial work, entertainment work, tech work, everything.  Weather is the best and worst of all 4 seasons.  *Very* expensive to drive or ride, many of those that do typically store their bike outside the city because of cost.

[Kaveh]

Where in NZ are you?  I lived in Queenstown for a tiny bit, but I was born and raised in the San Fran Bay Area.  As said above, the cities you mention in the US have very high housing costs, but this is a great time to bring your NZ $$ over here.  When I was in NZ the exchange rate was somewhere around $0.34(US) to the (NZ)dollar.  Come over for a extended vacation.

[Super T.I.B]

Have you considered moving across the ditch to Australia?

I live in Sydney, but if I could, I would move to either Melbourne or Perth. That's to say that if I had no ties binding me in Sydney, all my ride buddies live here.

It all depends on what you want out of a lifestyle. For me, there would be no way i would ever move to the states, too many Americans  ,  but you being American, you know what it's like.

I just think Australia would be a lot more easier to live in than the states. My soon to be wife is Canadian and she said there is no way she would ever move back to Canadia.

Plenty of job ops here for you and the S.O.

just my .02c

[Hank]

Oklahoma, we need more Ducatisti 
I've been here since I was 6.  Not extremely exciting, but there's little pollution, housing is about 10X cheaper than anything you mentioned, and its not so jam packed full of people.  Problems include extreme hot in summer and extreme cold in winter, high winds, 3.2 beer, long straight roads, and the occasional tornado 

[BWClark]

Thanks for the replies!  

More info:

I'm in Auckland currently, NZ's largest city with a population of just over 1 million. We live in the central city. We've got a great deal renting a 115m² apartment (about 1150ft²) with 1 parking space for $450/week. Housing prices are nuts here too, and we cannot (choose not to) afford to buy anything we would be prepared to live in. Some people spend 50% of their income on housing(!?). We like some aspects of city living for now, but ideally see ourselves in a more suburban-type place in the future, with proximity to a city.

I previously lived in Santa Cruz, CA, a couple hours south of S.F.. My sister lived in Long Beach, CA until a few months ago. I sorta know these places, and I like the climate (riding weather).

We've considered Australia, but I think we're after a bigger move than the "across the ditch" like many others are doing.

I agree with the idea of different places for different stages of life. I view NZ as tangueroHondo views Canada. Great place to retire.

It really boils down to the fact that I still feel American after all my years here, and I don't really feel like I speak the NZ cultural language, and that I think I would "gel" better there. My wife and I are almost decided that the US would be a good cultural fit for us.

We're just trying to gauge if people feel like its a hard place to live, or an easy place to get ahead if you've got a head on your shoulders. Jobs, living costs, all that.

I'm really just vomiting all this stuff here because it's been swirling around in my head for too long....  

[Super T.I.B]

You're trying to get away from the sheep and foosh and choops aren't you?

i can't blame you. NZ is an absolutely beautiful country, very sleepy and would be a great place to retire.

[S4ROB]

Move to Monterey, Ca.
Buy a big house near Laguna Seca Raceway.
Do it before July.
Then we will come for the weekend of 7/18-20 and have a big party. 

[the_Journeyman]

I'd pick Australia over North America.  I loved it when I was down there ~

JM

[Super T.I.B]

I'd pick Australia over North America.  I loved it when I was down there ~

JM

Where were you JM?

And what did you do? Did you fit in with everyone else and get pissed?

[junior varsity]

I thought Australia was OK, but only for the visit. There are plenty of other great cities to discover in the US.

Put Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia on your list of places to at least visit and see how varied life can be from one region to another.

SanFran & LA were neat, too much political protesting nonsense in SanFran for me though, and LA traffic is bothersome. Several friends that live there go into work very early and stay late, not because work is demanding, but because they despise traffic.

Come over for a little while, work somewhere, and give yourself the opportunity to move about. New Mexico and Arizona are supposedly great places to live.