Family of 3 considering Moving from Germany to New Jersey. Received an offer and I'm not sure what to make of it.
Hi everyone, glad I found this community really hoping to get some honest insights.
We’re a family of three (mid 30s with a 1 year-old) currently based in Germany. I work in tech for a stable company with HQ in Germany, but we also have a presence in the US. Earlier this month, I was approached about relocating to Jersey City where we have a office.
The offer is $180k base with $220k OTE.
The plan would be for all of us to move, with me working initially as the sole earner while my wife takes time to settle in, improve her English, and explore job opportunities. We’re also considering holding off on childcare for the first 6–12 months until we better understand the actual cost of living.
Right now, we have a comfortable lifestyle in Germany and manage to save around $30k per year. Ideally, we’d want to maintain a similar (or better) level of comfort covering rent, daily life, being able to go out occasionally (dinners, drinks), stay socially active, have room for some travel while still being able to save a meaningful amount.
For housing, we’re looking at a 2 bedroom in Jersey City or possibly Hoboken, but I keep seeing that rents there are very high.
On paper, the offer looks strong, but after reading a lot about the cost of living in NYC/NJ, I’m starting to question how far it actually goes for a family of three on a single income.
For those familiar with the area:
- Does this compensation realistically support a comfortable lifestyle and savings in Jersey City/Hoboken?
- What kind of monthly budget should we expect (rent, childcare, general expenses)?
Appreciate any advice or real life experiences. Thanks in advance!