I couldn’t afford the northwest.
It’s beautiful but it can be pricey. I don’t go out to eat often and not to the pricey restaurants (some are rather high, but probably not as much as LA and NY). Got my townhouse/condo some years ago after shopping around for months in various areas (some are much higher than others and that’s been changing over the years). I primarily go to one store for groceries, which seems lower than others and buy various items at Costco for a good price.
I think some of the wages here are OK with the other prices, though like any area there are definitely low wages.
I don’t live in Seattle proper (live in a burb), but the west side of the state and the governor (formerly our Rep in the House - Enslee) loves spending and taxes as do most Dims. The east side of the state is more conservative and I think the costs are lower.