Not sure that's true. L8 at Google is a total compensation of >$500k. You can afford to live on that in the Bay Area.
If you leave Google for a job in Raleigh, you're probably going to take a massive pay cut. Remember, the average SWE makes like ~$100k. It's not nothing but it's not that great either after you factor in a mortgage, car insurance, gas, utilities, food, retirement, and increased healthcare costs due to being on an inferior health insurance plan. At a certain point, you're better off at Google.