> The benefit of higher coastal salaries only works if you can somehow contain the overall cost of living from eating it all. When I worked in NYC, I literally

> The benefit of higher coastal salaries only works if you can somehow contain the overall cost of living from eating it all. When I worked in NYC, I literally saved more, after taxes and all expenses, than I could make in total before taxes (or any expenses) where I live now. Even a zero cost of living wouldn't begin to make up for that. People simply refuse to understand this, though. They just keep on repeating "but muh cost of living!" even though it's clearly not relevant. It's their prerogative I suppose, but the thing that gets me is that these same people are constantly complaining about how they can't hire anyone! Have you considered paying more, I ask? We pay more than enough already! No, you obviously don't.