I have been an area manager, and now I am developing and managing one 1200 unit state-of-the-art facility. So I have experienced both sides of the coin

You can get quality staff at a lower wage, but be prepared for employee turnover. If you demand the same skill set as jobs that pay better, your staff will inevitably leave.

That having been said, careful about over paying staff. Give them specific goals, and let them work for it. If they get really comfortable with their starting salary, they have a tendency to get complacent.