Comparing MS salaries in Redmond to Google salaries in Mountain View is rather apples and oranges. Cost of living is different (esp. once you start shopping for houses), state taxes are drastically different etc.

Now, Google also has an office in Kirkland. That would be an interesting place to compare. But it's also not particularly large.

I don't appreciate the "cost of living" salary differential excuse, and let me tell you why... Ask yourself, does Microsoft charge me less for Windows or Office if I live in, say, Kansas? No, they don't.

Why would that matter in the slightest when you're actually shopping for a job? Either the pay is more (in terms of quality of life it translates to while residing where you need to live to commute), or not.

Relatively little of your money is spent on those kinds of things though. If you're like most people, most of your money goes to taxes, a place to live, and food. Those are location-dependent.

And free food. Can't forget about the free food.