I did, in fact I've vastly improved my salary by leaving the Bay Area.

I can tell you my team just hired a bunch of new engineers and we mad offers 10% above Bay Area offers very much on purpose.

Or, were they paid one to begin with? I've hired people locally whose last gig was working remote for companies not based in SFBA and not making SFBA level wages.

Which I think is fine, imo salary is most of cost of living adjustments.