You can get that pay with enough experience. Obviously nowhere near as common though. I think your pay:cost of life ratio will win in Chicago. One of the best setups in the country.

Climate matters a ton for me. I live by Chicago but am considering taking an effective pay cut to get the bay weather. Running is my hobby, and running in blizzards is getting old.

> Climate does very little for well being on a broad scale. Almost nobody I know who lives in the bay area moved here because of the nice weather.

People stay in the Bay Area because of climate since you realise you can be outside nearly year-round. And in terms of well-being, if you spend more time outside, there's a good chance of being healthier and happier.

If moving from SF, someone can take a 50% pay cut and still maintain the same quality of life in Chicago [1].

As someone who works for a Chicago based startup I think if you adjust those salaries for the cost of living they are very reasonable.

[1] http://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/chicago-il/san-fran...