I think people are also assuming that the "market" rate for tech jobs in these "low COL" areas keeps up with the cost of living. I am here to tell you that it d

I think people are also assuming that the "market" rate for tech jobs in these "low COL" areas keeps up with the cost of living. I am here to tell you that it does not, in the cases I'm familiar with. Especially in the relatively hot "cheap" areas, outsiders moving in are driving housing prices up dramatically, but the pay rates have not increased the same amount. So if five years ago you could make 2X the profit, now it might only be 1.25X, and getting worse. Also, people need to remember that "cost of living" is not actually one thing. It's not like I get a "living" bill once a year that I have to pay. Even in relatively cheap areas, there are some things that cost the same as or even more than they do in major metro areas. Don't do math based on some web-based COL calculator or even on housing prices and assume that it will apply across the board. I have absolutely seen offers within the last six months where the candidate would be worse off financially despite living in a "cheap" place because the pay reduction was more than the all-in cost of living a similar lifestyle (yes, if you're willing to downgrade lifestyle you can offset this, but you can do the same thing in SF. Most people I've seen actually want to UPGRADE lifestyle with larger houses, more land, nicer neighborhoods, etc.).