One thing the food stores are doing, is charging based on the average pay check. They look at the average income level for the area the store is located, and this is used to base their prices on. It allows them to take the maximum possible amount. In other words, "Everything you got."
That is what the cost of living is in any region of the US, everything you got.
That is what the cost of living is in any region of the US, everything you got.