They absolutely do. I try to provide budget advice to people I work with. I was enlisted navy and learned to mostly stay within an E-5 salary so I save allot. They really just don't have the financial responsibility they need and don't want to change their life styles or don't want to fight with their spouses about cutting back.

That being said, the people who have moved down south don't have the same costs on the basics so it does have an effect. Eating well in this state for a family of 4 is about $1000 a month, gas is expensive here, when I first moved back to CT my car tax quadrupled even though my car was a year older. Insurance is higher and even health care costs more.