If you aren’t buying something frequently, you drive to the big city when you need it, or you order it. Most specialist goods just aren’t available in a small town same day at any price.
Plumbers and other non niche service providers are also generally cheaper in small towns because cost of living is higher for the plumber too, all potential customers have less disposable income, and because the market isn’t perfectly efficient.
Housing and basic necessities like groceries are so much more expensive in thriving dense cities than in rural small towns, that they swamp out any costs for the vast majority of people.
Plumbers and other non niche service providers are also generally cheaper in small towns because cost of living is higher for the plumber too, all potential customers have less disposable income, and because the market isn’t perfectly efficient.
Housing and basic necessities like groceries are so much more expensive in thriving dense cities than in rural small towns, that they swamp out any costs for the vast majority of people.