[kmonsen]

At least in Google they pay almost all of the health insurance. Taxes are slightly lower. So yes you can save a lot. It is very suburban so you will have a larger house then London, but it is not a city. Prices for apartments/houses are high, but you can find something that doesn't eat the whole salary and if you buy a house you hopefully can sell it for more later.

I was a bit shocked at first how dated silicon valley looks at least compared to the price. And the commute is soul killing. Public transport is worse then British trains, with the added problem that the stations are in useless places.

But the weather is great and the job opportunities for software engineers are fantastic. Dating also sucks I have heard.