Salary Comparison
Drafters: Elgin vs Cambridge
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Elgin, IL
$64,102/yr
Cambridge, MA
$87,820/yr
Our recommendation: Elgin, IL
Elgin offers $244 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Elgin
Cambridge
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$64,102
$87,820
$23,718
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,900
$5,342
$1,442
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
90
152
-62 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,407
$4,093
$1,686
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,350
$2,650
$1,300
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,493
$1,249
+$244
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.62×
1.31×
+0.31×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
6/10 (Moderate)
5/10 (Tight)
+1
A vs B
Elgin — Full Details
Cambridge — 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.