Nominal salary tells you how much money you receive. Cost-of-living-adjusted salary tells you how much that money can actually buy. A $200,000 salary in San Francisco and a $140,000 salary in Austin can provide nearly identical purchasing power. Tax differences are not included.
Where Should I Live?
Nominal vs COL-Adjusted Salary
| # | Location | Median (Nominal) | COL Index | Adjusted | COL Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $86,500 | 138.5 | $62,455 | #6 (-5) |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $72,093 | 138.5 | $52,053 | #12 (-10) |
| 3 | New York, NE | $72,000 | 90.8 | $79,295 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $71,490 | 138.5 | $51,617 | #14 (-10) |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $70,720 | 138.5 | $51,061 | #16 (-11) |
| 6 | Auburn Hills, MI | $70,260 | 90.6 | $77,550 | #2 (+4) |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $70,000 | 138.5 | $50,542 | #17 (-10) |
| 8 | Irvine, CA | $67,500 | 138.5 | $48,736 | #19 (-11) |
| 9 | Boston, MA | $65,478 | 146.5 | $44,695 | #24 (-15) |
| 10 | New York, NY | $65,229 | 125.1 | $52,141 | #11 (-1) |
| 11 | Hicksville, NY | $65,000 | 125.1 | $51,958 | #13 (-2) |
| 12 | BROOKLYN, NE | $65,000 | 90.8 | $71,586 | #3 (+9) |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $64,822 | 92.7 | $69,927 | #4 (+9) |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,730 | 108.4 | $59,714 | #8 (+6) |
| 15 | Bronx, NY | $64,480 | 125.1 | $51,543 | #15 |
| 16 | Long Island City, NY | $60,000 | 125.1 | $47,962 | #20 (-4) |
| 17 | Washington, DC | $60,000 | 146.0 | $41,096 | #26 (-9) |
| 18 | Maspeth, NY | $60,000 | 125.1 | $47,962 | #21 (-3) |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $58,000 | 92.3 | $62,839 | #5 (+14) |
| 20 | Yonkers, NY | $57,750 | 125.1 | $46,163 | #22 (-2) |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $57,387 | 92.7 | $61,906 | #7 (+14) |
| 22 | Brooklyn, NY | $56,000 | 125.1 | $44,764 | #23 (-1) |
| 23 | Miami, FL | $53,643 | 102.8 | $52,182 | #10 (+13) |
| 24 | Hayward, CA | $53,000 | 138.5 | $38,267 | #27 (-3) |
| 25 | Atlanta, GA | $50,856 | 91.0 | $55,886 | #9 (+16) |
| 26 | DALLAS, TX | $46,000 | 92.7 | $49,622 | #18 (+8) |
| 27 | Grapevine, TX | $40,290 | 92.7 | $43,463 | #25 (+2) |
| 28 | City of Industry, CA | $37,440 | 138.5 | $27,032 | #28 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Cost Estimators is in San Francisco, CA at $86,500, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $79,295 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Atlanta, GA ranks #25 by nominal pay but climbs to #9 once cost of living is factored in (up 16 spots), making its $50,856 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #9 on nominal pay ($65,478) but its high cost of living drops it 15 spots to #24 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
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Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.