The best grocery store for me is Fareway.
Great service. Awesome meat counter.
I assume you are talking about the Northeast in general as the taxes and cost of living is about the same whether you are in Boston, Connecticut, NY, NJ or DC/Baltimore. Maybe a tad higher in the NYC metro area.
I guess the best answer to your question is that while the cost of living is high, so are the salaries and availability of good jobs. As a lifetime resident of the Northeast, I've never been unemployed in my life and my salary increases 10-15% every year (averaged over the past 30).
Several times I have considered moving to another part of the country, including Alabama, Iowa and Kentucky as I have family living in those places. However, it seems like the folks in those areas are always struggling to make ends meet. Not a lot of quality jobs in those areas and while the cost of living is much lower in those parts, it is more than offset by the fact that even those who are working are not making very much money.
Also, I admit to being spoiled by being in the Northeast. I have access to the best hospitals, climate, transportation, restaurants, etc. The entertainment options are endless in these parts. Always something different to do and always a new restaurant to try out in the local area. Got the ocean nearby, skiing not that far away and lots of woods for hiking, camping or just getting away.
So yes, the taxes are high and I hate that. I also hate how liberal this whole area is. However, I do have plenty of disposable income that I wouldn't have if I lived someplace else and had to make do with much less income.
Probably should have said 'what's not to like about Aldi's' because those other items tend to keep you too poor to move out! And you can't sell your house because no one's buying - so...
I can see why people here can't move out, but what I really can't see is why anyone would move TO here.. And when we get the opportunity, we're outta here too.