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 | $66,789 | 138.5 | $48,223 | #6 (-5) |
| 2 | Sunnyvale, CA | $66,103 | 138.5 | $47,728 | #7 (-5) |
| 3 | BROOKLYN, NE | $62,500 | 90.8 | $68,833 | #1 (+2) |
| 4 | New York, NE | $60,000 | 90.8 | $66,079 | #2 (+2) |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $58,778 | 146.0 | $40,259 | #16 (-11) |
| 6 | SANTA MONICA, CA | $57,918 | 138.5 | $41,818 | #14 (-8) |
| 7 | New York City, NY | $56,253 | 125.1 | $44,966 | #10 (-3) |
| 8 | West Hollywood, CA | $56,000 | 138.5 | $40,433 | #15 (-7) |
| 9 | New York, NY | $55,000 | 125.1 | $43,965 | #11 (-2) |
| 10 | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $52,978 | 138.5 | $38,251 | #17 (-7) |
| 11 | Santa Clara, CA | $52,458 | 138.5 | $37,876 | #19 (-8) |
| 12 | PASADENA, CA | $52,000 | 138.5 | $37,545 | #21 (-9) |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $50,731 | 146.5 | $34,629 | #24 (-11) |
| 14 | Irvine, CA | $50,050 | 138.5 | $36,137 | #22 (-8) |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 138.5 | $36,101 | #23 (-8) |
| 16 | Coral Gables, FL | $50,000 | 102.8 | $48,638 | #4 (+12) |
| 17 | Arlington, VA | $50,000 | 100.7 | $49,652 | #3 (+14) |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $49,275 | 114.6 | $42,997 | #12 (+6) |
| 19 | Brooklyn, NY | $47,420 | 125.1 | $37,906 | #18 (+1) |
| 20 | San Jose, CA | $47,133 | 138.5 | $34,031 | #25 (-5) |
| 21 | Austin, TX | $45,000 | 92.7 | $48,544 | #5 (+16) |
| 22 | Cambridge, MA | $45,000 | 146.5 | $30,717 | #28 (-6) |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $43,992 | 95.6 | $46,017 | #8 (+15) |
| 24 | Rockville, MD | $43,840 | 116.5 | $37,631 | #20 (+4) |
| 25 | Fremont, CA | $43,680 | 138.5 | $31,538 | #26 (-1) |
| 26 | San Diego, CA | $43,448 | 138.5 | $31,370 | #27 (-1) |
| 27 | Orlando, FL | $43,329 | 102.8 | $42,149 | #13 (+14) |
| 28 | Chicago, IL | $42,224 | 92.3 | $45,746 | #9 (+19) |
| 29 | Torrance, CA | $41,621 | 138.5 | $30,051 | #29 |
| 30 | ALHAMBRA, CA | $41,600 | 138.5 | $30,036 | #30 |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Public Relations Specialists is in San Francisco, CA at $66,789, but after cost-of-living adjustment BROOKLYN, NE offers the best purchasing power at $68,833 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Chicago, IL ranks #28 by nominal pay but climbs to #9 once cost of living is factored in (up 19 spots), making its $42,224 go a lot further.
- Beware: Washington, DC looks strong at #5 on nominal pay ($58,778) but its high cost of living drops it 11 spots to #16 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
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Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.