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Anecdotally, I moved to NY from SF just over a year ago, and my cost of living went down quite a bit. I'm not in Manhattan, which is what that chart is for, but Brooklyn is at least as much 'city' as SF, plus Manhattan's just a short train ride away.

Downsides: not as pretty (though plenty pretty in its own way), worse weather (hotter in the summer, colder in the winter), people seem a bit more high-strung.

I've been thinking about moving to Houston. Imaging the difference if you had been in NYC:

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=relocating+from+new+yor...

But then you'd be in Houston. NYC is expensive because people want to live there.

If you only look at the central part of the city instead of the entire sprawling metro area, Houston isn't so bad.

Houston has many pluses. Relatively cheap living is just one of them.

On the other hand, NYC is not for everyone and cost is only one reason.

I did the comp of Houston to San Francisco: 20 degrees over 4 months makes a big difference! I'm glad I like to sweat.

Ouch: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=relocating+from+seattle...

76% more in Manhattan. Housing is 164% more expensive.