The Salary Index

Salary Comparison

Editors: Milwaukee vs Berkeley

Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.

Milwaukee, WI

$61,604/yr

Take-home$3,748/mo
Disposable$1,473/mo
Lifestyle6/10 · Moderate

Berkeley, CA

$90,570/yr

Take-home$5,510/mo
Disposable$1,532/mo
Lifestyle5/10 · Tight

Full Breakdown

Milwaukee

Berkeley

Diff (A−B)

Annual Gross Salary

$61,604

$90,570

$28,966

A vs B

Monthly Take-Home

After estimated federal + state taxes

$3,748

$5,510

$1,762

A vs B

Cost of Living Index

Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100

85

148

-63 pts

A vs B

Monthly Living Costs

Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare

$2,275

$3,978

$1,703

A vs B

Monthly Rent

$1,240

$2,550

$1,310

A vs B

Monthly Disposable

$1,473

$1,532

$59

A vs B

Purchasing Power Score

Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better

1.65×

1.39×

+0.26×

A vs B

Lifestyle Score

6/10 (Moderate)

5/10 (Tight)

+1

A vs B

Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.