Salary for two similar jobs in different states. How does this make sense?

Job 1: Controller 150-165k
Job 2: Controller 160-170k

Essentially the same responsibilities and requirements for both. One is in Missouri and the other is in Southern California.

I see this all the time too. Places like Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, etc paying a wage that feels like you’d be pretty well off. Then in California you got a similar wage where you couldn’t even afford a home.