[HumanDrivenDev]

You're right. It's also because we live in 1st world conditions, and once your basic needs are met, we strive to address the higher ones, like fulfillment and meaning.

I live in the first world, in a city of about 100,000. According to numbeo it's a bit cheaper to live here than Seattle, but much more expensive than Dallas. I earn just under $60,000 USD as a developer, which is considered a good salary here.

I think you drastically over estimate the first world as a whole.