"The reason some jobs pay more based on their location is exactly the reason you are talking about." - RDTroja
To be honest, I haven't found this to be the case. Extremely high cost of living areas like the DC area, the NorthEast, and California DO NOT pay substantially more [if any more at all] than people are paid here. I'm not talking about job offers for the same job for more money as a "lure." I'm talking about actual job promotions, that, because those areas don't pay any more than anyone else, you can't afford to take. For instance, I don't understand how anyone works in Rockville [either for the NRC or as a beltway bandit] or as a department manager at Indian Point for the same money that an engineer makes here in Knoxville. Take a look at the salary surveys, the money just isn't there for the high cost of living locations.
This advice is completely different than some HR scum trying to screw you into a lower salary[no offense intended toward any HR scum out there]. The fact is, it's a lot easier to live in a one room studio apartment when your 25, than it is when your 40 with two or three kids [but both are better than a coffin rack]. I'm simply suggesting that, if you don't plan on working at the same plant for the rest of your life, which may be a very stagnant existence for some, it is something to consider. If you plan on staying in the same area with the same company for the rest of your life, then by all means pick the nicest cheapest place you can find and good luck on trying to stay there.
Oh, and "Mike," whether I'm right or wrong about this, if that's the most asinine thing you've ever heard, then you've lived a very sheltered life. Most days of my life, I've heard much worse than that before lunch. I'd recommend that you might want to go climb back into the womb.
MGM