Actually, one small correction to your math.<p>You should adjust, for cost of living, only the part of your paycheck that you will be spending while living in that area.<p>E.g., supposed SF is twice as expensive as Dallas. If you make $100k in Dallas, and you typically spend $70k of it in Dallas while saving $30k (to spend later in life somewhere else), you would need to make $70k x 2 + $30k = $170k in SF (for an overall adjustment of 1.7) rather than $100k x 2 = $200k in SF (for an overall adjustment of 2).<p>Then again, if you&#x27;re planning on living somewhere for the rest of your life, it&#x27;s safe to assume that whatever money you make in that place, you&#x27;ll also be spending in that place. Therefore, in that situation, multiplying by 2 would be correct after all.