[JoeAltmaier]

Pay raise and pay cut are not justified descriptions. Given folks can live where they like, its simply a choice of where you want to live, vs what you can afford.

I agree that work and location will be decoupled for information workers, because the modern world is going that way. Its just something we'll have to adapt to.

[munificent]

> Pay raise and pay cut are not justified descriptions.

That's why I said "essentially". :) Compared to the alternative where salaries are location independent, it functions as a change in salary.

> Given folks can live where they like

Switching costs for moving are relatively low for young, healthy, childless renters, but are much higher for many others. Not wanting to move away from family (who may also be providing free childcare for you), not wanting to move away from close friends (who studies repeatedly show are critical for mental health), not wanting to disrupt your child's or partner's education, needing to find a buyer for your old house, finding a new house to buy, being underwater on your loan, not wanting to change doctors while in the middle of a long-term or chronic illness, having a hobby or passion that is highly location dependent, etc.

Moving is hard. Anyone who thinks it isn't likely hasn't put down roots enough to realize the benefits that accrue from not moving.

[JoeAltmaier]

Yeah I know, its hard. Done it 14 times, mostly about chasing jobs.

Living where you can't afford/don't have a job is not any kind of excuse for not moving. Some of the others - sure I'd like to be near family, but not if I'm going broke.

Strawmen for why-not-to-move are interesting but not statistically so. Most folks can move, especially the younger. There are far more younger folks than old ones.