Thief13x on 6/11/2009 at 02:05
Okay, it might seem a bit absurd posting this on a forum, but I am trying to get as many opinions as quickly as possible. I have been searching for a job for fucking months now, and it all comes down to the next four (busy as fuck as it is) days (deadline on the decisions).
I am sitting on two different offers, one from each local (Software Engineer), both equivalent salaries based on cost of living, both positions equally appealing to me, one requires a security clearance. I am looking for opinions from folks who have lived in either place or know personally about either place. LA is gorgeous, Dallas is awesome too, I am quite torn and HATE pressure :(.
Scots Taffer on 6/11/2009 at 02:24
I don't know jackshit about either place personally but I've heard LA is a fucking hole and Dallas is awesome.
demagogue on 6/11/2009 at 03:14
LA is a mega-city with a lot more to do, the sea is nearby, but more attitude you might have to deal with from people. Dallas is fun, more down to earth, but smaller scale (comparatively, it's still a good sized city) ... The economy is also in better shape in Texas.
It might depend ... if you're the kind of person that really lives off the energy of a city with a lot going on, you should go to L.A. If you're not that kind of person, not so much a dog-eat-dog alpha personality, then you might be happier in Dallas.
(For the record, my personal tough dream choice would be between Austin and NYC.)
CCCToad on 6/11/2009 at 03:24
Interesting you should mention this, I was reading about Texas v. California a few days ago, about how California is experiencing significant emigration, while Texas has net immigration.
Expect Texas to have an overall higher quality of life due to lower taxes, significantly lower cost of living expenses, and better government services .For example, Texas public schools are also supposedly better, although I havent done additional research to verify that.
However, you will miss out on the nightlife if you go to Texas. Another thing thats obvious, but worth pointing out since I've been there: Due to the intense summer heat(it was 80 degrees at 6 in the morning when I was there in June) and terrain, Texas isn't that good a place for most outdoor sports. Doing anything strenous in 103 degree heat simply isn't that much fun.
Shug on 6/11/2009 at 03:27
Tourist's impression of LA: pretty crappy place to live
nightlife schmightlife, any city with over 10k people has a bunch of citizens under 30 who enjoy alcoholic beverages away from their own home. I stayed in a backpacker's right near the Chinese Theatre and found the Hollywood clubs to be overhyped and certainly overcharged. If you actually live in LA you drive everywhere and I fail to see how that's conducive to a good night out.
Then again, that could also be the case in Dallas.
TBE on 6/11/2009 at 04:19
As much as I hate Dallas, I hate LA even more. I've spent time in both. Would much prefer Dallas. At least the people are real, for the most part. Which one is going to require security clearance? Me thinks Dallas. But I'm kinda smart like that. ;)
edit - I had a choice to live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or, get this, Syracuse New York. I picked NY :(
heywood on 6/11/2009 at 04:20
Financially, you'll probably do better in Dallas unless you live like a penny pinching hermit. I know you said "equivalent salaries based on cost of living" but I'm skeptical about that. I don't want to know what your offers are, but I'm going to guess the LA offer is no more than 15-20% higher than the Dallas offer. But the real cost of living is at least 50% higher in LA. Housing is the biggest factor, but also food, gas, taxes, entertainment - plan on everything costing you more in LA.
The traffic is worse in LA, and your commute will likely be longer unless you spend a lot of money for an apartment close to work. Traffic can be bad on weekends too, especially Sunday afternoon/evening in the summer.
But on the positive side, the weather is WAY better in LA, there are way more opportunities for outdoor recreation, and there's just more to do in general. If you're young and single, it would be a more fun place to live. Granted, I've only been to Dallas a couple times, but my impression was that it's not one of the best cities for a single guy while LA is up there with NY, Boston, and SF.
Since you're just starting as a software engineer, you may want to think about which area is going to offer the most opportunities for networking or switching jobs. I'm not sure which is the winner here. LA probably has more software jobs currently, but Dallas is growing a lot faster.
Another consideration is being comfortable with the people & culture, but that's something you'll have to figure out for yourself. I can generally fit in anywhere, but Dallas and LA would both take some getting used to. I'd probably find LA an easier fit at first (perhaps because I've spent more time there), but I suspect I'd form more lasting friendships in Dallas.
BrokenArts on 6/11/2009 at 04:38
Hey, I live here. Dallas is diverse, there are a lot of things to see and do. Hell all over Texas for that matter. You get all kinds of people, I've seen them all. There is night life, don't let them tell you otherwise. Sports, you can do most anything you want to. Depends on what you want to do.
We have temps here besides, 103 degrees. For the record we just had our coolest fall EVER. Lots of trees turning red, and golden colors. I'm loving it, we've had more rain than sun, in October. Now its just sunny and 75 degrees, for days on end. Awww it sucks. Has anyone mentioned the yearly wild fires out in CA? No thanks.
Starrfall on 6/11/2009 at 05:30
CA is awesome as hell but most of LA is a place no one should live.
The important thing is what PART of LA though. Watts ain't Long Beach ain't Covina ain't Marina del Rey.
Turtle on 6/11/2009 at 06:04
Texas has occasional rain and awesome storms, LA not so much, unless air pollution counts.
