Salary Comparison
Designers: Berkeley vs West Palm Beach
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Berkeley, CA
$78,230/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
$52,240/yr
Our recommendation: Berkeley, CA
Berkeley offers $701 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Berkeley
West Palm Beach
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$78,230
$52,240
+$25,990
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$4,759
$3,178
+$1,581
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
148
115
+33 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,978
$3,098
+$880
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$2,550
$1,880
+$670
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$781
$80
+$701
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.20×
1.03×
+0.17×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
4/10 (Tight)
3/10 (Tight)
+1
A vs B
Berkeley — Full Details
West Palm Beach — 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.