[kamaal]

Largely depends on what you work on. I have relatives from India who are doctors who stay in non-coastal cities and make a decent living. Unfortunately if you have to make it big money wise you have to ultimately play the start up game, where the biggest center in the world today is the Bay Area.

Also as some one who has lived both in Bangalore and Bay Area, I know well to understand cities matter in the sense if you are in the middle of all the action chances of progress and growth are higher. Or your long term competitiveness and career will likely suffer.

Sure some hipster culture exists in the Bay Area, but for all of it. There is a lot of good work in Bay Area, and I think if you are in tech and are an immigrant you must absolute stay there.