Tech Workers Could Face Steep Pay Cuts for Leaving Bay Area

Last year, Michael Snow joined GitLab, an open-source collaboration software firm that has long allowed its employees to work remotely from anywhere they want. After several months of working while traveling the world, Snow eventually settled in San Francisco. The decision surprises people, who ask Snow why he didn’t choose a much cheaper location. 

Snow said his primary motivation for moving to the city was to be surrounded by other people interested in technology. But he also acknowledged that there would be a financial downside to moving to a lower-cost place. “I could do that, but my pay would decrease,” said Snow.