He made $300,000 in San Francisco and still felt broke, here’s why he left

Koby Conrad, founder of AI sobriety companion Sunflower, says moving from San Francisco to Buenos Aires has helped him focus on both his company and his personal life, even though it meant giving up a six-figure income in one of the world’s biggest tech hubs.

Speaking to Business Insider, Conrad said he is happier, more productive and less worried about the high cost of living than he was in California. ‘In SF, if I’m making $300,000, I’m still stressed about money. Here, you can make $100,000 and think: Cool, I’m set for the rest of my world,’ he said.

Conrad, 32, grew up in Boise, Idaho, and moved to San Francisco at 26 after his younger brother encouraged him to join the city’s startup ecosystem, later entering Y Combinator after his brother listed him as a co-founder on an application. He still admires the city, calling it ‘one of the most gorgeous cities on the face of the planet,’ but said it revolves heavily around the tech industry. ‘Highly technical humans who work at tech companies is 90% of the circle,’ he said.

After considering New York and Buenos Aires, Conrad chose Argentina for its culture, food and lower living costs. His company now splits across both places, with the technical team remaining in San Francisco and New York while the go-to-market team is based in Buenos Aires. He said he is applying for a nomad visa in Argentina while still travelling back to San Francisco regularly.

Image: Wikimedia Commons/by Luis Argerich