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 | NORTH CHICAGO, IL | $180,000 | 92.3 | $195,016 | #1 |
| 2 | Menlo Park, CA | $170,000 | 138.5 | $122,744 | #8 (-6) |
| 3 | Cupertino, CA | $164,747 | 138.5 | $118,951 | #9 (-6) |
| 4 | Aliso Viejo, CA | $164,630 | 138.5 | $118,866 | #10 (-6) |
| 5 | Mountain View, CA | $158,000 | 138.5 | $114,079 | #13 (-8) |
| 6 | New York, NE | $157,300 | 90.8 | $173,238 | #2 (+4) |
| 7 | BROOKLYN, NE | $157,000 | 90.8 | $172,907 | #3 (+4) |
| 8 | Santa Clara, CA | $155,316 | 138.5 | $112,142 | #14 (-6) |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $154,592 | 105.5 | $146,533 | #4 (+5) |
| 10 | Culver City, CA | $154,429 | 138.5 | $111,501 | #15 (-5) |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $153,193 | 138.5 | $110,609 | #16 (-5) |
| 12 | San Mateo, CA | $153,000 | 138.5 | $110,469 | #17 (-5) |
| 13 | San Bruno, CA | $153,000 | 138.5 | $110,469 | #18 (-5) |
| 14 | Fremont, CA | $152,250 | 138.5 | $109,928 | #19 (-5) |
| 15 | Stamford, CT | $152,000 | 112.8 | $134,752 | #6 (+9) |
| 16 | Sunnyvale, CA | $150,713 | 138.5 | $108,818 | #20 (-4) |
| 17 | Palo Alto, CA | $150,030 | 138.5 | $108,325 | #21 (-4) |
| 18 | San Francisco, CA | $150,000 | 138.5 | $108,303 | #22 (-4) |
| 19 | Redwood City, CA | $150,000 | 138.5 | $108,303 | #23 (-4) |
| 20 | Oakland, CA | $150,000 | 138.5 | $108,303 | #24 (-4) |
| 21 | San Ramon, CA | $149,745 | 138.5 | $108,119 | #25 (-4) |
| 22 | Beaverton, OR | $147,909 | 113.1 | $130,777 | #7 (+15) |
| 23 | Long Island City, NY | $147,622 | 125.1 | $118,003 | #11 (+12) |
| 24 | New York, NY | $147,243 | 125.1 | $117,700 | #12 (+12) |
| 25 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $145,282 | 138.5 | $104,897 | #26 (-1) |
| 26 | South San Francisco, CA | $145,000 | 138.5 | $104,693 | #27 (-1) |
| 27 | Jacksonville, FL | $144,685 | 102.8 | $140,744 | #5 (+22) |
| 28 | Milpitas, CA | $144,528 | 138.5 | $104,352 | #28 |
| 29 | Foster City, CA | $141,712 | 138.5 | $102,319 | #29 |
| 30 | Pleasanton, CA | $140,000 | 138.5 | $101,083 | #30 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Marketing Managers is in NORTH CHICAGO, IL at $180,000, but after cost-of-living adjustment NORTH CHICAGO, IL offers the best purchasing power at $195,016 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Jacksonville, FL ranks #27 by nominal pay but climbs to #5 once cost of living is factored in (up 22 spots), making its $144,685 go a lot further.
- Beware: Mountain View, CA looks strong at #5 on nominal pay ($158,000) but its high cost of living drops it 8 spots to #13 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Marketing Managers wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.