Quite. An example, is buying a house.. and rent pricing reflects purchase price. If you buy and pay off a house, you have "spent" that salary in both location

Quite. An example, is buying a house.. and rent pricing reflects purchase price. If you buy and pay off a house, you have "spent" that salary in both locations. However, when you retire, you have property worth a LOT more in SV. So while the "take home" pay, after expenses is the same with 150/400, the equity is massively different.