>>60811000
This is what people don't understand about COL calculations.
Like, for example, if you're a programmer fresh out of college in Ohio you'll make maybe 60k starting out on the high end (closer to 40-50k in this market). That's $3600 a month after taxes, which is a """"good"""" wage for Ohio.
Even in the cheapest ghetto shitshack accommodations, you're spending BARE MINIMUM 2k a month on housing, food, and transportation. That's being incredibly frugal and living in a rough part of town in Ohio. Which leaves you with $1600 for everything else in life. Your job opportunities/growth is fucked, you'll be lucky to hit 80k after 5 years. And you are forced to live in Ohio.
Meanwhile, in California, wages start at 90-100k and increase exponentially. That 90k wage nets you about 5k after taxes. Similar accommodations (ghetto apartment, cheap food) in the Bay Area might cost you 2.5k a month. But more reasonably you could get a nice place for $3k. Now you have 2k left over. In a few years you will be making 150k, or 200k+. You make more money, your career trajectory is much better, your lifetime earnings will be way higher, and all the while you get to live in a desirable place with world class amenities.
