> several employers other than Google have policies to adjust pay based on location For example, the federal government. There's a set pay scale for the countr

> several employers other than Google have policies to adjust pay based on location For example, the federal government. There's a set pay scale for the country, with "locality pay" added in a number of cities/regions. A few years ago, I know civilians who were working for the Navy in Washington, DC and their jobs were moved to Norfolk, VA. Their jobs did not change; but, due to locality pay, it was a 10% pay cut. (Yes, a number of people left and did not move.)