I honestly have no idea. I've lived/worked in Switzerland (Geneva) and Italy before. I wasn't expecting it and I really haven't had the time to let this sink in.

I'd look into Berlin and Hamburg. Berlin is changing rapidly with a lot of opportunity and Hamburg is already quite wealthy with a ton of resources available to it.

I've been leaning away from Silicon Valley for awhile. It's expensive here; SV used to be the only game but now startups can legitimately be anywhere. SV doesn't especially offer anything that can't be found/done elsewhere. Indeed it feels oversubscribed here.

When I was there, the Berkeley EECS Undergraduate Handbook (basically your graduation contract) said that the prestige of a Berkeley degree increases with distance. Translated into English that means get out of Dodge. Similarly, an SV pedigree counts for something elsewhere, maybe more than it does here.

I agree with you. I came to SV in 2012 to study and loved it here up until 2015 or so. Ever since then I got tired of the life here and how crowded it is everywhere. If I wanted to stay here, I would also need a visa after I am graduating in Spring 2017.

So, right now my plan is to use what I already have (a European Passport) and move back and take advantage of the stuff Europe offers me!

And if you ask many Germans, the economic situations in both have their own problems as well. No where is perfect, instead of uprooting, people that want change need to become a part of the movement rather than waiting for others to do it for them.

I'm not directing this at you, just making the comment.