[panorama]

Agreed 100% - I work in SF but I'm not a fan of the city. Even after considering the higher cost of living, I'm pretty sure I make substantially more here than I would in LA. I'd love to move back to Southern California, though.

It's not just salary, but the types of companies in SF/SV just seem a lot more compelling, and are more often than not founded by people who 'bleed' tech. This might be a gross assumption but my feeling after being involved in the OC startups scene and talking/interviewing with LA startups is that the companies there are started by business guys looking to strike it rich with marginal tech DNA.

Consider these points and try to figure out how to differentiate from the typical LA wannabe-entrepreneur. Work on compelling problems (e.g. Oculus Rift, in Irvine), or just have an established culture of putting the tech first and don't be stingy. Good luck!