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 | $79,914 | 138.5 | $57,699 | #6 (-5) |
| 2 | New York, NE | $70,500 | 90.8 | $77,643 | #1 (+1) |
| 3 | DALLAS, TX | $70,013 | 92.7 | $75,526 | #2 (+1) |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $70,000 | 146.0 | $47,945 | #9 (-5) |
| 5 | New York, NY | $68,000 | 125.1 | $54,357 | #8 (-3) |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $65,606 | 138.5 | $47,369 | #10 (-4) |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $65,250 | 146.5 | $44,539 | #11 (-4) |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $64,000 | 92.3 | $69,339 | #3 (+5) |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $61,360 | 92.7 | $66,192 | #4 (+5) |
| 10 | Watertown, MA | $60,000 | 146.5 | $40,956 | #12 (-2) |
| 11 | Austin, TX | $56,035 | 92.7 | $60,448 | #5 (+6) |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $52,083 | 91.0 | $57,234 | #7 (+5) |
Key Insights
- The highest nominal salary for Urban and Regional Planners is in San Francisco, CA at $79,914, but after cost-of-living adjustment New York, NE offers the best purchasing power at $77,643 equivalent.
- Hidden gem: Austin, TX ranks #11 by nominal pay but climbs to #5 once cost of living is factored in (up 6 spots), making its $56,035 go a lot further.
- Beware: San Francisco, CA looks strong at #1 on nominal pay ($79,914) but its high cost of living drops it 5 spots to #6 on purchasing power.
Salary Check
Are you a Urban and Regional Planners wondering if you are underpaid?
Compare your pay against government-filed salary data for this role.