Salary Negotiations When Moving To Lower COL Area

I'm in a high cost of living (COL) area and am considering opportunities in a lower COL area. These jobs pay about the same as my current job despite being more senior due to lower COL (same industry). How would you prepare to counter someone whose main point is that $X in high COL city is equivalent to $.8X in low COL city? I'm probably slightly underpaid where I am currently, and want a higher base even in a lower COL city.

I can counter with some things such as pointing to higher than average bonuses, benefits, etc., but can anyone think of any good counterpoints specifically related to the high vs low COL?

5,962 WSO Academy Investment Banking Session Reviews: 4.82/5

Class of '23 Dec 2026 Cohort

5.00/5

Investment Banking Full Resume Review

“Wilson was very helpful in my resume review. He asked clarifying questions to help me highlight the key aspects of my resume. Following the review, I feel confident that my updated resume accurately reflects my my professional work experience. I also appreciated how quick he was to respond to my enquires. His responses were supportive and ensured that my resume reflected key points that are relevant for my experience. I would definitely want to work with Wilson again in the future as this was a great experience for me.”

Haagse Hogeschool

Class of '28 Nov 2026 Cohort

4.70/5

Investment Banking Career Roadmap (optional)

“I recently had my first roadmap meeting with a mentor from WSO Academy, and it was truly a pleasure. We had such an open, genuine, and insightful conversation. What I appreciated most was how closely his background, career path, and long-term vision aligned with my own ambitions. It was almost as if we shared the same goals and outlook on the future, which made the conversation even more valuable. We discussed a wide range of topics, including starting my career in an analyst role in the APAC region, potential pathways into private equity, and how to eventually transition into the U.S. market. We also talked about opportunities in the Middle East and Europe, the importance of building and maintaining a strong professional network, and even the possibility of starting my own company in the long term. He shared valuable advice on the next steps I should take and how to approach my career strategically. What made the meeting particularly special was how approachable, supportive, and genuinely interested he was in my ambitions. Since I’m currently completing my internship in Singapore and he will also be visiting Singapore soon, we’re planning to meet for a coffee chat, which I’m really looking forward to. Overall, I’m extremely grateful for this experience. It was a genuinely inspiring, helpful, and insightful conversation that made me even more confident about my decision to join WSO Academy. I feel fortunate to have connected with a mentor whose experience and vision align so closely with the career path I hope to pursue.”

See All 11,099 WSO Academy Reviews

+136	UBS Catastrophic Q1-Q3 26, M&A -17%, Outside Top 10 in Americas, EMEA & APAC	37	5h
+53	PWP acquisition by Piper cancelled	13	9h
+50	Banking (Un)fortunately Still Needs You: My Case for Bankers in the AI Era	15	3d
+31	New analyst: how are you thinking about learning to model when AI is getting this good?	6	5d
+29	UBS IB #24 in US M&A in 2026	10	5d
+25	Houston banking Gods ?	16	19h
+23	Evercore poaches Baird DC Defense Team	14	2m
+21	Best Houston Banks for Culture in 2026	11	8h
+18	How to Exit a Sweatshop	4	5d
+18	Normal for lateral process to go +2 months?	4	5h

1	redever	99.2
2	BankonBanking	99.0
3	kanon	99.0
4	Secyh62	99.0
5	Betsy Massar	98.9
6	CompBanker	98.9
7	GameTheory	98.9
8	dosk17	98.9
9	DrApeman	98.9
10	Mimbs	98.8

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Salary Negotiations When Moving To Lower COL Area

Score Breakdown

Feedback

Score Breakdown

Feedback

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Elite Career Bootcamp. Top Job Offer Guaranteed.

Salary Negotiations When Moving To Lower COL Area

Trending Content - Investment Banking Forum