I wonder: Would this argument still be true if you counted in the cost of living (which varies massively across Europe and also within countries and even cities

I wonder: Would this argument still be true if you counted in the cost of living (which varies massively across Europe and also within countries and even cities). Europe is not only Paris and Berlin, in Germany actually the economic powerhorses often are based in the countryside (or close to larger cities) and cost of living is very okay.