[CmdrSprinkles]

Pretty much.

Our firm is actively not in Silicon Valley (or CA at all). And as such, we don't offer six figure starting salaries. And that does hurt us when it comes to getting new grads as they say "I can go work for Google and get paid X. Or I can work for you and get a fraction of that"

But the smart ones realize that cost of living is a LOT cheaper out here and that fraction goes a lot farther. I have colleagues who went the SV-industry route and one weekend over beers we realized I had saved more per year AND had far more "dicking around" money than they did. And I live by myself (no SO not by choice, but no flatmates is) rather than having three flatmates. Their salaries are still a fair amount higher than mine, but my cost of living is a tiny fraction of theirs.