In HCOL locations, after 10-15 years of high pay work, you end up with a massive equity in your property (assuming you weren't renting), often enough to just retire in 99% of the places in the world. You don't get that in Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma you also build a bunch of equity in your home. What's even better is you don't have to sell your home to retire and move out of California. You just retire. You already live in Oklahoma in your dream house that is paid off.
