I'm on my second TN status, and it really isn't very hard to get. If you have a relevant degree and a job offer, it's practically guaranteed.
Sure, it's not ideal living in a foreign country, but while I don't have dependents or large liabilities to pay off, I'll enjoy getting a salary which is literally double what Canadian companies have offered.
As for the cost of living. LA is cheaper than Vancouver. So are many US cities. The article seems to treat SF as the whole of the USA when comparing costs.