Location also determines the costs of other things to a certain degree. Prices of gasoline, food, housing etc are all higher in high COL areas, so why is it sur

Location also determines the costs of other things to a certain degree. Prices of gasoline, food, housing etc are all higher in high COL areas, so why is it surprising wages are too? I get the argument that "well I'm doing the same work here or there, why should I be paid differently?". But this is what things like outsourcing are intended to do isn't it? To get the same work done for cheaper.