Salary Comparison
Designers: Berkeley vs Bellevue
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Berkeley, CA
$78,230/yr
Bellevue, WA
$50,520/yr
Our recommendation: Berkeley, CA
Berkeley offers $1,548 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Berkeley
Bellevue
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$78,230
$50,520
+$27,710
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$4,759
$3,073
+$1,686
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
148
143
+5 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,978
$3,840
+$138
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$2,550
$2,450
+$100
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$781
$-767
+$1,548
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.20×
0.80×
+0.40×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
4/10 (Tight)
2/10 (Tight)
+2
A vs B
Berkeley — Full Details
Bellevue — 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.