<prompt> Human: About a year ago, I moved away from the greater NYC area to the mid west. I was lucky enough that my job allowed me to continue working for them, remotely, as an Independent contractor. While I was working in the office, I was on payroll, meaning I received health insurance benefits. Working as an independent contractor in a different state, my job was unable to provide this anymore, so as compensation, they raised my salary by 2 grand.Currently, I live with my girlfriend, her two kids, and have one of our own on the way in about a week. We are residing in a family members house, and are expected to pay only utilities, not rent. We are also under no pressure to move out of this house.So, 9 months ago, we find out my girlfriend is pregnant. It was a bit of a shocker, and after assessing the situation, we realized if we stay where we are, we will be looking decently, financially speaking.The plan was, a month or so after the baby is born, my girlfriend will get a job, and I will be working from home, while taking care of the baby.This means two incomes, and we still are only paying utilities read this as paying midwest prices for utilities, and minimal childcare and baby sitter costs.Sounds peachy, huh? Maybe we will make it by, living in an area with a relatively low cost of living, having minimal expenses, with one of two incomes being of a greater NYC area entry level salary. I mean kids are expensive, but if we play our cards right, try to buy as much clean yet second hand clothing for the first year, and clip coupons as much as we can, we could actually have money left over to possibly put all three kids in a decent school, and finance another vehicle.Yeah, looks like everything is going pretty smooth right now.And then comes the monkey wrench. In a casual phone call with one of my managers, he said I have been the topic of discussion amongst the powers that be. All of my managers believe I have great potential, and am a great asset to the company, yet there are a number of things that Im unable to do as well, while working remotely.I have only been with this company for a little over a year and a half, and have worked remotely for about a year of this time. In the time I worked on-site, aside from my expected duties, I ended up volunteering to train the two new hires that were added to our team during this time. I was also very heavy into the general workflow of our teams, and other teams. If I spotted something that could be done better, I would say it. If the person I brought this up to disagreed, we would hold it until the next weekly meeting, and discuss it amongst the rest of our team. And there were a handful of technical things that we do, that I found a slightly better, easier, or more efficient way to do.But, the managers feel that Im not as able to perform this way, while working remotely. Since I am not in direct contact with my other team members, I assist them in training, or general advice, as easily as I once was. In order for me to help, they need to approach me about it.. and nobody really likes to ask if they are doing something wrong.. so it happens very rarely now.So, during this casual call, my manager asked me how I feel about moving back and working in the office. He told me to sit on it and think about my answer before getting back to him. He also said that if there is anything that might convince me, such as a higher salary, to let him to, and he will see what he can do.I told him I will have to get back to him after our baby is born, which he understood completely he has a newborn on the way as well.So heres the monkey wrench. My current cost of living verses my current income is pretty damn hard to beat. The cost of living in the greater NYC is completely ridiculous in general, and if we move back, we will need to pay rent, along with utilities at a much higher price. Then there is childcare. We will either not have to pay childcare, but have only one income, or two incomes, yet have to pay for childcare. And of course, in the back of my head I ask what happens if I decline.. will they fire me?I made a decision earlier this year that I probably will never live in that area again, until Im much older and can actually afford it.. But, if Im able to negotiate with my job, for a better quality of life for my family, Im all for it.So now I come to you all for help. This will be my first post in this subreddit. Ive been lurking here and there, and it looks like you all have a lot of great advice. Im curious what you all think of the situation, before I respond saying I need a 200 pay raise for this to be beneficial to me.. because something tells me that suggestion will be rejected.Is there anything I could negotiate for, other than higher salary? Maybe some tools, other than site about living cost information that could be useful, or any information somebody in my situation might find useful.Any and all help and or suggestions are appreciated.Thank you!Edit: sorry for the wall of text.. i didnt realize how long it was until I posted it.. hopefully this doesnt deter people from reading, and helping..  <response>: Im sort of a homer, but I love living in the midwest OKC myself. If youre in a solid city, you should be able to find a job where you are. It likely wont pay as much, but I appreciate having lower cost of living. That, coupled with the rent situation, might be your best bet, in my opinion. I would consider also where you all might be happiest living. I couldnt live in NYC. But some people couldnt live in OKC. With your experience, I bet you can make either work. 