Should I relocate for a job?
You are not moving for a role, you are moving for a daily life. Compare the two cities on the ordinary Tuesday, not the offer letter — that is where the decision actually gets lived.
What to actually weigh
What does an ordinary Tuesday look like?
Commute, weather, who you eat dinner with, how far the people who know you are. The offer is one hour of the decision; this is the other twenty-three.
What is the salary in real terms?
Rent, tax, and the flights home. A large raise into an expensive city is often a pay cut with better job titles.
What is the exit if it does not work?
How long is the lease, how portable is the role, could you come back. Reversible moves deserve less agonising than irreversible ones.
Frequently asked
Is it worth relocating for a job?
It usually is when the move buys a career step that is unavailable where you are, and usually is not when it only buys a raise. Money follows you home; opportunity often does not.
How do I decide whether to move for work or stay near family?
Name the cost of each honestly rather than ranking them. Most people already know which one they would regret more — the difficulty is admitting it out loud.