[anamax]

> So, if you are living someplace with a average salary of $70k and taking in $60K you might be able to buy less than a guy earning $55K where average income is $50K.

On the other hand, you might have more in the place with higher average income. Remember that buying isn't the only way that you can get things.

Compare NYC with North Dakota. Things cost more in NYC than in ND, which is bad if you're buying, but there is a lot more free stuff in NYC than ND.

Plus, there's more opportunity to move up in NYC than in ND. In some cases, that opportunity is worth something.

[starkfist]

I'm actually from ND and live in NYC. I just wanted to point out that ND and NYC are such opposite extremes that this particular thought experiment doesn't work very well. Other qualitative factors are more important than financial considerations.

[gaius]

There are some things that you will nearly always pay the "world price" for, e.g. plane tickets. So tho' in a major metropolitan area food and rent may be proportionally more, those things are proportionally less. It all depends on what kind of thing you're into.

[anamax]

> It all depends on what kind of thing you're into.

Yup. Great museums are cheaper in NYC than ND but owning a horse is much cheaper in ND.

Plane tickets between two specific locations are world price, but you also have to take where you live into account.

For example, going to Singapore from Reno costs more than going from SF or San Jose.