Salary isn't all about "the value you add" and at the end of the day it's supply and demand.

However, regardless of if the worker is taking a lower salary they should be maximizing purchasing power in whatever location they're working. If you can move somewhere rural, have a better quality of life, and have a higher savings rate while taking a pay cut you're still better off than your counterparts in [HCOL area] making double your salary.

Your salary only matters when compared to your peers in similar living situations.