Living in a mid-to-high cost of living area while I'm working now affords the following advantage: I'm building equity in a house that I can keep when I retire

Living in a mid-to-high cost of living area while I'm working now affords the following advantage: I'm building equity in a house that I can keep when I retire because I love it here, or sell it and move anywhere I want. If I move to Oklahoma and decide I don't like it, and you're paying me in accordance with the reasonable cost of living, I'm stuck. So, no thanks. Either pay market rate regardless of location or you're not going to entice people invested in a high cost of living area away.