Re:Ask HN: Thinking of moving to Europe from USA
by alexhakawy on Saturday December 31, 2016 @09:47AM
(#13291234)
freelancing sounds nice but I'm willing to just work out there and start from the bottom to make my way up.
1. Compensation is generally lower than in the US. That's worth keeping in mind depending on your age & long terms plans, if you have those already. Don't let it turn you off from the idea, because living elsewhere can be wonderful, but it's worth being clear that this probably isn't the optimal choice for your bank balance/savings. But it doesn't sound like that's your priority, so that's fine.
2. If the primary reason for the move is a lifestyle change, I agree with others that the best way to do that is figure out where you want to live & then look for jobs there (or freelance/work remotely if that suits you). From my personal experience & seeing friends go through it with various countries, it's usually fairly straightforward & a company that wants to hire you should be able to help out with the process.
I'll second Berlin as a really good choice for location: culturally very vibrant & has a rapidly growing tech & art scene. I know several people who have moved there in the last few years.
I'll also say I personally loved living in London, and already being fluent in the language has its perks, but that may not be as much of a change as you want.
Good luck!