Early in my career, I had an offer for a new job that gave me visions of $$$ dancing in my head.
I knew California was more expensive than Texas and wanted to see how this could impact things. Hmmm early 80s so no internet with gobs of info seconds away.
My strategy was to drive into Houston for several weekends, pop into a newsstand and pick up several Sunday newspapers to scan real estate and grocery store ads.
Food quite a bit more expensive. Real estate LOTs more expensive. For the dazzling salary increase, I couldn't afford an equivalent home closer than 40 miles from Walnut Creek where the office was.
I turned down the job telling the company I wasn't willing to reduce my lifestyle or drive a 40 mile commute each way. If they would double my existing salary though, I would move from TX to CA. Company turned down my counter offer. Lol. I was satisfied with that outcome.
Back in the early 80s worked as a headhunter. There were tables available to provide parity numbers for moves around the country.