Spendng power and location; for a $1000 you get far more for your money "south of the border". . .too, with regard to Cade Maddox, life in the fast lane on the west coast is expensive, indeed, in any lane, it is expensive. My godson has recently taken a position with a "white-shoe" law firm at LA, and he is finding it difficult to live "comfortably but not lavishly" on $250,000 a year.