So you're looking for a new job and open to relocating? Then carefully compare each area's cost of living, cost of doing business, and how highly educated their popuations are. Factors such as these should influence your decision because they will directly impact your quality of life both in the short- and long-term. Think of these each of these factors as the legs on a three legged stool. An area with a low cost of living and low cost of business but with an uneducated workforce will likely underperform over the long-term. Think third world country. An area with a highly educated workforce but with a high cost of living and a high cost of doing business with also likely underperform over the long-term as employers will prefer to hire people in areas with similar levels of education but with lower costs. Think Germany and France.

While there are many other very relevant factors, if you're just considering these three then you're going to want to look carefully at the following metro areas:

1. Boise, Idaho
   
2. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
   
3. Austin, Texas
   
4. Washington, D.C.
   
5. Albuquerque, New Mexico
   
6. Huntsville, Alabama
   
7. Fayetteville, Arkansas
   
8. Norfolk, Virginia
   
9. Atlanta, Georgia
   
10. Madison, Wisconsin
    

By the way, if you're keeping score, the most expensive state is California with 12 of the 20 costliest metro areas in the nation.

-- Source: JobCentral.com