Let’s start with Google, which dominates the game by allowing employees to bring their dogs to the office, take post-lunch naps in special pods or get free massages for their hard work. High housing costs, high tax rates, and strict regulations have made it challenging to live, work, and do business in the area. Most of the downsides of working in the valley exist solely because of how fantastically these companies treat and pay their employees. Those looking for living quarters they deem acceptable may be dumbstruck at the price tag. The key is Silicon Valley’s core principle of disrupting and upending institutions — it is not afraid to go to war with convention, and a creative team of STEM employees is exactly what makes that possible. Co-workers often cram into rooms together, though some desiring their own space may pay $1,400 a month — for a closet. "embedUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/embed/7IX0mBMDi0Y" Where Silicon Valley Tech Companies Are Located. Pull out a map and check out the locations of some of the biggest tech giants in Silicon Valley. It offers truly unprecedented perks to \ employees. Contact Marcotte Properties to find your next place to call home at an affordable price: https://www.marcotteproperties.com/co...", Silicon Valley is the 21st century’s American Dream- the combination of professional growth, premier technology companies, mild winters and … This is theoretically balanced out by the fact that the average starting salary is over $100,000, but in practice, there turns out to be plenty of difficulty for those trying to make ends meet. Instead of serving as a warning, however, this level of zealous commitment has come to set the tone for work ethic in Silicon Valley. It is also fairy convenient to most major area employers. If you are in the presence of good health care, healthy food and de-stressing activities like yoga and massages, you will want for less than you would at a traditional company. If it’s status you’re after, you can’t get much more exclusive than the city of Atherton (94207). Netflix, for example, offers both new mothers and fathers a year of paid leave to spend with their newborn babies. Hey, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. Such sacrifices are even an object of reverence for those espousing the valley’s lifestyle. The coronavirus is reshaping the workings of Silicon Valley, the epicenter of U.S. tech culture and innovation for 70 years. "contentUrl": "https://youtu.be/7IX0mBMDi0Y", If you are not willing to work overtime, there is always someone else who will be. Having a car can be both a blessing and a curse in Silicon Valley. This is why, if you are planning a move to the Bay Area, it is important to secure a good salary and plan ahead for all of your expenses. The list prices on homes are often above $1 million, and sometimes the unthinkable happens: a house listed at one price will be sold hours later for a much higher price. }. We specialize in helping new residents find affordable apartments, allowing them to save on their cost-of-living expenses while still enjoying the benefits of working in Silicon Valley. Science, technology, engineering and math — those who graduate with these degrees may feel exultation after the rigors of university are over, but they will feel even happier when they realize the plethora of jobs available to them in the world’s technology playground. At the other end of California’s cost-spectrum was San Francisco. A “unicorn” company is a company valued at $1 billion or more. For 2014/15, these stand at: 1-7,582 USD – 1% The city also has its own airport if you just want to get out of town. Silicon Valley was named for the silicon needed to make semiconductor computer chips. Philadelphia, PA. As the center of Silicon Valley — as well as the 10th largest city in the United States — San Jose naturally offers some of the best culinary selections in the entire Bay Area. Widely circulated stories have recounted a Google employee living in a box truck in the company parking lot, or about multiple people living on top of one another in a tiny apartment and still paying more for rent than most of us. Where should I go? San Francisco, with its steep streets lined with flower boxes and pastel Victorians, feels like the promised land in some novel about the riches of the American tech industry. There isn't actually an assigned ghetto for CEO’s here. It isn’t just the cost of housing that can be crushing in the Bay Area. This compares to $1,600 for California as a whole and $1,050 nationally. Moving and Shipping Costs to Silicon Valley. There’s a reason so many people flock to Silicon Valley. Well, Silicon Valley is ahead of the curve on this one. In the sublime, fog-strewn sunshine of the San Francisco Bay Area lies one of America’s greatest urban developments. Plus, it’s not very steady work. A recent report found the cost of living in Silicon Valley is 87% higher than the U.S. average. California has more billionaires than any country (except the US and China), and half of them live in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. Now, less than three decades later, it holds over 30%. Elon Musk, the iconic leader of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, was famously known to sleep in a bean bag by his desk while working 23-hour days at his first startup company. When it found new mothers were leaving the company at a higher rate than others, it boosted its benefits for them. Facebook: 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Usually a pretty hefty one. "@context": "https://schema.org", You can have a tech hub of one in your apartment in Nowhere, USA. The cheapest places to live near Silicon Valley that are easily commutable are South San Francisco, Burlingame, and the lower East Bay. The Evergreen area of south San Jose offers a family-friendly combination of reasonable rents, good schools and reasonable commuting times (about 30 minutes to downtown). And just as very few actually grew rich in the gold rush, only a comparative handful of tech companies have truly made it in the long run. Just ... 2. In short, expect long hours and stiff competition. The state of California is the biggest generator of GDP in the US, almost 80% larger than second place Texas, mostly thanks to Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Call 800-538-1724 for general inquiries, or fill out our online contact form. I can finally live somewhere cheaper. There is always someone willing to pay more than you, and it is a fact that has driven many a well-paid tech worker to the brink of bankruptcy. Lot’s of good answers here. These companies rely on highly systematized operations, cutting-edge technology, and a special breed of creative freedom, thereby making them reliant on engineers and scientists. There were 42 startup unicorns in 2015 alone, though that number has decreased since then. At the area’s far southern tip you’ll find the Gilroy Premium Outlet Mall offering deep discounts on designer merchandise, as well as traditional retailers like Costco, Best Buy and Home Depot. But then there is the other side of Silicon Valley, and admittedly, the two can be difficult to reconcile. To us, the best place to settle in Silicon Valley should fit these criteria: 1. Unemployment was 16.4% in November — the highest in the state and the nation. Many Silicon Valley employers provide either housing subsidies or even actual housing units for their employees. Known as “the capital of Silicon Valley,” the large concentration of high-technology social media, engineering, computer, and microprocessor companies around San Jose has led to a thriving economy, with many companies boasting 1,000 employees or more. Companies like Apple and Salesforce reimburse their employees for travel, whether it is by car or by public transit, and many of these same companies offer shuttle buses to ferry their employees to and from work. Make sure the job being offered is actually rewarding. If you feel like living by yourself, make sure you know what your expenses will be. Most of its jobs are low wage and farm-related. Many companies supply employees with subsidized gym memberships and outstanding healthcare that may even be accessible at the workplace. The tech workers in Silicon Valley know you want them gone. Buying a house can seem equally grim. The most expensive? It is a sparkling beacon surrounded by rich, manicured metropolises like Sunnyvale, San Jose and Los Gatos. Styles range from traditional dinner-and-cocktail destinations like Dry Creek Grill and Grill on the Alley, to Mexican (Tu Mero Mole), Italian (Original Joe’s) and Ethiopian (Zeni). The Big Move: I work in Silicon Valley, but my job is now remote. Philly is famed for health care (as evidenced by five … Google: 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View, CA 94043. Certainly, Atherton. What about a potential family? To figure out the best place for you to live, contact us. 5, 2016. Everything in Silicon Valley is expensive. A higher salary is wonderful if you can make it last. The reality is that it’s impossible to predict the future of Silicon Valley, because it’s too early to tell what results this unscheduled remote work experiment will yield. As tech workers continue to leave Silicon Valley for more space and a better cost of living, the companies they work for are responding with a change of their own: cutting salaries. Some Silicon Valley towns have cracked down in recent months, creating an even more uncertain future for RV residents. This often leads to a company’s demise and a large number of laid-off workers. That means financially, emotionally and mentally — you don’t want to be stuck working long hours for a job you dislike or doesn’t pay your bills. When working in Silicon Valley, it is important to remember that you will be party to two levels of income tax – one state, the other federal. While this may seem like a good thing, there is actually a good chance of such companies going under even after initial success. Silicon Valley schools included in the Top 100 list are: Any elementary or middle school feeding into these top-rated high schools are likely to provide your children with a first-class education. Other cities offering top-drawer eats include Cupertino, Palo Alto and Mountain View. Silicon Valley has become a fascinating microcosm of financial disparity in America. 1. Here are a few of those cons. It is a nice, quiet, and clean place to live and the staff is very helpful.”. Research which companies offer them, and be sure to ask any future employers what they offer. Sunnyvale consistently rates as one of the area’s safest cities. Back to the bayfront housing : you can get waterfront homes in Redwood Shores and Foster City, which are on the north end of “Silicon Valley” on the Peninsula. It appears such rankings go far beyond superficial perks like napping pods and free haircuts — what Google, as well as companies like Salesforce and Genentech, offers goes far deeper. Are you thinking about coming to California to seek your fortune? Take into account your other living expenses and the higher cost of food and services here. The cheapest house? Unlimited access to free apples — guess who offers that one! In 2014, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area was ranked as the happiest place to work in the USA, citing high salaries and opportunities for growth, in addition to companies providing “fun and innovative work … In the event of an employee’s death, Google will pay their spouse 50% of their salary for ten years after death. They knew it when you protested their buses.They knew it when you trashed their scooters.They definitely knew it … All of that pampering creates a huge supply of workforce that, in turn, crowds out the renters’ market and causes prices to skyrocket. As many people here have said, the West Valley towns of Los Altos Hills, Saratoga and Los Gatos, Palo Alto, Woodside, Portola Valley, etc. As of 2016, it was the most expensive city in the United States, with the median cost of a one-bedroom rental at $3,590. Of course, there’s a key reason El Centro’s so cheap. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has pledged $30 million to build modular, prefab homes to house around 300 employees. As the center of Silicon Valley — as well as the 10th largest city in the United States — San Jose naturally offers some of the best culinary selections in the entire Bay Area. Vacancy rates are low, too, averaging just 2.7 percent, according to the U.S. Census. To help make sense of it all, let’s look at the pros and cons of working there. Startup Life The 13 Worst Things About Living in Silicon Valley Working in one of the largest tech hubs in the world can have its drawbacks. Google has also created a form of in-house life insurance for those with families. "name": "Where Do Silicon Valley's Tech Workers Really Live? Tech companies often have employees working largely from their computers. Given the high cost of living in the valley, this can be difficult. Provided by Dow Jones. Families in search of a two-bedroom apartment should expect to spend well above $3,000 per month, and singles looking for their own studio apartment will not spend much less. According to Focus.com, the price of basic necessities here exceeds the national average by 62 percent. In many cases, those who do not volunteer to take on these hours are seen as unfit for the job and risk being replaced. With the incredible success of companies like Apple, Facebook and Twitter, there have been an uncountable number of startups aspiring to make their fortune in the tech industry. But if you are able to stash away a chunk of your earnings from one of these jobs, an early retirement might be closer than you imagined. Apple: 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014. eBay: 2065 Hamilton Ave San Jose, CA 95125.  That creates jobs, more tax revenue, and higher stock prices. The Price of Prestige: Tech Employees' Living Costs in Silicon Valley & Seattle. (Fun Fact! The best part of Startup Embassy are the people who have joined us at some point. Google also strives to create a safe and diverse workspace for every one of its employees. Live and work in Silicon Valley. Here are some things you will want to ask yourself before you pack up. How Much Money Do You Need to Make to Live in San Francisco? Here’s a quick look at the best places to live in Silicon Valley: Of the top 100 high schools in California, seven are in Silicon Valley, according to the 2012 survey by U.S. News and World report magazine. 3. Many of these companies are located in cities where renting may be more realistic than in San Francisco: If you work at one of these places and want to save on housing, some of the more affordable options in the area include San Mateo, Union City, Fremont and Hayward. Moving to Silicon Valley? But it is also home to one of the country’s greatest juxtapositions — a populace with a wildly high income that is somehow having trouble affording their basic costs of living. Tech companies also pour their ample resources into offering some of the best benefits in the history of employment: Many tech companies are also sympathetic to commuters who travel from outside of the city to get to work. Consider the costs of parking, taxes on your vehicle, and gasoline when deciding whether it’s worth it to bring a car with you. If you are a part of a couple who is good at saving and combining forces to cover your expenses, you will be ahead of the game in terms of the feasibility of living in this area. There have been many attempts at recreating Silicon Valley in other places: take Berlin’s “Silicon Allee” or Dublin’s “Silicon Docks,” for example, neither of which has produced anything close to California’s output. To illustrate, consider that in 1989 the richest 1% of San Francisco’s population held over 15% of its total wealth. There is an increasing number of companies that offer remote work, meaning you can work from anywhere in the world and still enjoy the benefits of working for a tech company. In the summer of 2013, the median price of the 50 houses listed for sale was $6.67 million, which made it the most expensive ZIP code in the nation. There are many horror stories that come out of Silicon Valley’s worker mill. While some companies aim as high as $250,000 to new hires, a modest starting salary might be just over $100,000. Other companies simply help cover the costs of the area’s exorbitant rent prices. Creative freedom seems to be what makes Silicon Valley excel where others have failed. Consider cities like Palo Alto, Cupertino, Hayward, Fremont, Union City, and Los Gatos, where there is both a more reasonable rental rate and decent availability to those looking for housing. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. If you’re making $80k and single, you can make it work if you don’t mind roommates. Companies will often not explicitly state that a job entails long work hours. As if these perks weren’t enough, most tech companies start employees off with six figures. Greatschool.org would give us some ideas how the particular school is doing academically compares with others – The higher the rating the better, 9 or 10 is desirable. Here are some of the costs, by numbers: This all adds up to a cost of living that is more than 60% higher than the average in the United States. A two-bedroom bungalow listed at $1.2 million. A one-bedroom apartment can cost between $1,300 … If it’s traditional mall shopping you’re after, San Jose offers the Westfield Valley Fair as well as the trendy Santana Row. Its “cafeteria” includes thirty different restaurants offering everything from world cuisines to healthy smoothies. A family of four will spend close to $100,000 a year on necessities, The median price for a home in the area is more than $840,000, with a mortgage payment of $3,684 per month, Gas typically costs 37% more in San Francisco than the U.S. average, Parking can cost $400 per month, as much as monthly rent in many places, Food, both in restaurants and grocery stores, is expensive, at 23% more than the national average, Entryway to the top 1% of income in the area starts at over $558,000 per year. Then there are places like Apple, Facebook, Netflix, Asana and more. … And travel times necessarily depend on where you’re going and when you go as well as where you start from. At a March city council meeting, Mountain View voted to … By Aaron Terrazas on May. Here are some of the reasons people are so attracted to working in Silicon Valley. "uploadDate": "2020-08-20", “Silicon Valley” may be a synonym for technological innovation, but this kind of magic isn’t exclusive to the valley alone. If you have a car and not worried about $5-$7 toll fee for the bridge, you may consider living in Fremont, where you can find great neighboors with much lower costs. What do you want out of your career? Things to Consider Before Moving to Silicon Valley for Work, How to Move to the Bay Area Without Completely Breaking the Bank, Where Silicon Valley Tech Companies Are Located, living in a box truck in the company parking lot, recreating Silicon Valley in other places, significantly higher than the national average, cost of living that is more than 60% higher, housing costs are friendlier toward renters. Let us make your transition to Silicon Valley an easy one. Let’s examine both sides of the story — and set out to show that it doesn’t have to be this way for those looking to dive into the valley’s lifestyle. Tesla’s Fremont Factory is located just a few minutes away from our Bart Springs, Bart Plaza, Berry Tree, Redwoods, Timberlane, and Town & Country Apartments.). How does a company entice people to devote unthinkable amounts of effort and brainpower to working for them? There are several cities in the valley whose housing costs are friendlier toward renters. There are also justifiable fears of another tech bubble forming. Life in Silicon Valley: What It’s Really Like to Work and Live in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley’s tech companies continuously top the charts as the best places to work in the United States. Safe environment for our children and better education. There is a fixed number of these energetic young applicants each year, and companies fall over themselves trying to convince them to work for one over the other. While C-suite executives can comfortably afford a mortgage and a cushy lifestyle, the average tech employee is stretched thin to survive. 2. That said, living in San Jose gives you quick access to most of the area’s major freeways as well as the transportation systems provided by Caltrain, ACE, VTA light rail, and Amtrak. The cons of working in Silicon Valley for millennials Cost of living is through the roof San Francisco is frequently cited in the top five most expensive cities to live in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, a major concern for potential candidates is the exceptionally high housing costs, an issue that current Valley residents are worried about also. If you are looking to commit yourself to your work and put in long hours to achieve success, then Silicon Valley could be the place for you. The hallmarks of Silicon Valley work culture have now spread.