Given that the difference between cost of living between the most and least expensive places in the US is in the $40,000 range, and salary drops are occasionally upwards of double that, no, the scaling is not proportional.
For example, I live in Montana. Most COL adjustments say that I'd need about $40,000 more a year to maintain my current standard of living, yet equivalent positions get about $100k to $150k more a year. If one of those poor folks in SF making $250k a year now wants to move to Montana, they can easily expect to be making $150k or less after they move.
For example, I live in Montana. Most COL adjustments say that I'd need about $40,000 more a year to maintain my current standard of living, yet equivalent positions get about $100k to $150k more a year. If one of those poor folks in SF making $250k a year now wants to move to Montana, they can easily expect to be making $150k or less after they move.