Salary Comparison
Art: Worcester vs Berkeley
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Worcester, MA
$84,470/yr
Berkeley, CA
$102,370/yr
Our recommendation: Worcester, MA
Worcester offers $36 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Worcester
Berkeley
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$84,470
$102,370
$17,900
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$5,139
$6,228
$1,089
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
106
148
-42 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,853
$3,978
$1,125
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,650
$2,550
$900
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$2,286
$2,250
+$36
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.80×
1.57×
+0.23×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
7/10 (Moderate)
6/10 (Moderate)
+1
A vs B
Worcester — Full Details
Berkeley — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.