I think a one bedroom apartment in the city center is a very reasonable expectation. I also don't think celebrities and financial types compete with the average

I think a one bedroom apartment in the city center is a very reasonable expectation. I also don't think celebrities and financial types compete with the average software developer for said one bedroom apartments. I think your comment perfectly illustrates the issue some cities on that list have. Namely, their salaries might seem high on their own, but are not really competitive anymore when taking into account cost of living (and taxes, I suppose).