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 | New York, NE | $62,010 | 90.8 | $68,293 | #1 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $61,200 | 138.5 | $44,188 | #6 (-4) |
| 3 | BROOKLYN, NE | $55,000 | 90.8 | $60,573 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | New York, NY | $52,083 | 125.1 | $41,633 | #9 (-5) |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $52,000 | 146.5 | $35,495 | #14 (-9) |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $50,000 | 138.5 | $36,101 | #13 (-7) |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $50,000 | 114.6 | $43,630 | #7 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $49,991 | 146.0 | $34,240 | #17 (-9) |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $48,797 | 138.5 | $35,232 | #15 (-6) |
| 10 | Culver City, CA | $48,500 | 138.5 | $35,018 | #16 (-6) |
| 11 | Brooklyn, NY | $48,000 | 125.1 | $38,369 | #12 (-1) |
| 12 | SANTA MONICA, CA | $45,000 | 138.5 | $32,491 | #18 (-6) |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $44,400 | 92.3 | $48,104 | #3 (+10) |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $43,123 | 91.0 | $47,387 | #4 (+10) |
| 15 | DALLAS, TX | $42,000 | 92.7 | $45,307 | #5 (+10) |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $40,697 | 102.8 | $39,589 | #10 (+6) |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $40,000 | 92.7 | $43,150 | #8 (+9) |
| 18 | Coral Gables, FL | $39,937 | 102.8 | $38,849 | #11 (+7) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Interior Designers is in New York, NE at $62,010, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $68,293 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Chicago, IL ranks #13 by nominal pay but climbs to #3 once cost of living is factored in (up 10 spots), making its $44,400 go a lot further.
- Beware: Boston, MA looks strong at #5 on nominal pay ($52,000) but its high cost of living drops it 9 spots to #14 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Interior Designers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.