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Notes -
In finance there is no real QOL difference between NYC and London and even some reasons to prefer the latter. Sure, Texas is much lower tax, but finance is pretty small in Texas. Singapore and Hong Kong increasingly prioritize locals / Chinese.
All in pay for my job is maybe 30% higher in NYC. Once you factor in state and local taxes the tax burden is pretty similar. Groceries, restaurants, rent are 50-70% more expensive in NYC. Consumer goods are the same, but one can only buy so many iPhones and big TVs. High end fashion and luxury goods are subject to import and luxury taxes that make them ~30% more expensive than they are in London. Vacation time is half of what it is here. Property is about the same although NYC prices are steady while London’s are falling. The weather is a mixed bag, NYC is sunnier but London has a far better climate. A ski vacation in the Alps is half of what it is in Aspen at the same tier.
The main jobs where it seems to make sense to move to the US are in tech and medicine, although the latter is very difficult. In finance, though? Compare what $6000 rent gets you in lower Manhattan vs the pound equivalent in London. My parents’ local Italian restaurant in NYC (once you factor in taxes and tip) costs the same as Cipriani here. (Cipriani in NYC is at least double). And when you factor in much higher crime, crazy homeless psychos, far more dangerous and dirty subways, tropical swamp summers and freezing winters, worse storms etc etc it really is no contest for me - London wins, at least for now.
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