Salary Comparison
Coating: Gaithersburg vs Topeka
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Gaithersburg, MD
$54,676/yr
Topeka, KS
$39,872/yr
Our recommendation: Topeka, KS
Topeka offers $323 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Gaithersburg
Topeka
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$54,676
$39,872
+$14,804
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,326
$2,426
+$900
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
118
68
+50 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,056
$1,833
+$1,223
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,758
$920
+$838
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$270
$593
$323
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.09×
1.32×
-0.23×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
3/10 (Tight)
5/10 (Tight)
-2
A vs B
Gaithersburg — Full Details
Topeka — 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.