Of course getting paid Bay Area salaries while simultaneously living somewhere you can buy a big cheap house is a great arbitrage, but not achievable for many.

But many engineers can work in the Bay Area for 10 years to become a millionaire then move elsewhere, buy a house cash and retire early (or work a lower pay job if they feel like it).

> But many engineers can work in the Bay Area for 10 years to become a millionaire then move elsewhere, buy a house cash and retire early (or work a lower pay job if they feel like it).

This sounds good on paper, but what you’re saying is establish roots in one place and then rip them up (take your kids out of schools, away from their friends, leave your friends, hobbies, etc). 10 years isn’t exactly an in-n-out stint on an oil rig.

On the coasts it's normal to not have kids until your early 30s, so you can definitely graduate and work 10 years in the Bay Area before moving elsewhere and establishing a family.