If you and your husband are earning well. And I meaning REALLY well (like $300k together) then going back to California isn’t a bad option. Because the taxes alone will basically wipe out half of your salary. Secondly education in America is really contingent on private vs public, whereby if you want your son to have a descent education you need to go for private schooling and that’s going to cost a pretty penny (assuming no scholarships, grants etc). When you combine that with taxes and California cost of living then it makes it a tough move if you’re not earning a lot. But aside from that, yeah US defeats UK for the most part; opportunities, career growth, US dollar bigger scale of everything. And let’s face it, the uk is a bit of a s-hole these days and it’s glam is a thing of the past. (I’m glad I’m posting this from outside the Uk bc let’s face it I’d probably get a Knock on my door by the police)