> In other words, by this measure, if you have $50,000 in after-tax income in Mississippi, you would have to have after-tax earnings of $68,000 in the District of Columbia just to afford the same overall standard of living.
I imagine it is much easier to earn $68k after taxes in DC than it is to earn $50k after taxes in Mississippi.
Assuming the $68k in DC / $50k in MS is the benchmark, my point was that while it's much cheaper to reach that benchmark in MS, you're probably much more likely to reach it in DC. So a random person in DC is probably more likely to earn $68k or more than a random person in MS is to earn $50k or more.
I imagine it is much easier to earn $68k after taxes in DC than it is to earn $50k after taxes in Mississippi.