Conversation

Jesse Powell
@jespow
Residents of San Francisco, if you could keep your job but do it remote, from anywhere in the world, how much cash compensation would you be willing to trade? e.g., tomorrow, you move in to a luxury condo on the beach in Thailand, sell your car, stop paying CA income tax, etc.
  • 0%
    14.7%
  • 1-10%
    16.6%
  • 11-20%
    24%
  • 21%+
    44.7%
982 votesFinal results
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Status Quon't
@statusquont
Wow! Shocked at these initial results. Geographical arbitrage has been one of the best untapped lifehacks of the last 15+ years. Amazed people would discount their own worth by that much. Curious if
@photomatt
has data to share?
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Jesse Powell
@jespow
If you are high earning, you'll immediately save 10%+/yr on income tax. Savings on rent, food & transportation could be another 30%+/yr. Depending on where you're going, quality of life could be substantially improved. What's the value of not having to step over needles & feces?
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Status Quon't
@statusquont
Could save more if you're smart about it. Change state residency to FL, WY etc and reclaim 9% CA taxes. Live outside the US, reclaim 25% Fed taxes. Live tax-free PLUS cost of living slashed by 40%. But better to keep salary the same and stack major sats!!
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Jesse Powell
@jespow
Unfortunately, if you're a US citizen, you still have to pay the federal government on your worldwide income no matter where you live.
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Jesse Powell
@jespow
It depends. Generally, if you are there for < half the year, you won't. Some people are moving to a new country every quarter just for fun/variety/weather anyway.
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Bewters
@_bewters
Sure if you want to take the nomadic route, but imo this is generally unsustainable for most people. Bte I have been doing exactly what you are suggesting above for 7 years.
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Bewters
@_bewters
Replying to
@jespow
@statusquont
and
@photomatt
Yes deffinately. There are also many that have favourable tax if your income is from abroad e.g Portugal. In my experience though, people tend not to choose where they live primarly due to tax. If you love a place enough to relocate there, you just accept the tax requirements.
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