Hi Scott,
I moved to California from Germany 12 years ago. I'm working as a nurse and make as much in dollars as I made in German Marks. If I compare prices in that way, I pay actually less than in Germany and I think it is the same comparing similar jobs. That means that keyboards are more expensive in the U.S but we also earn on average more than the Europeans.
Of course that applies only if you don't get minimum wage.
Hope that helps so you don't feel to cheated.
Eric