Salary Comparison
Educational: Elgin vs Seattle
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Elgin, IL
$67,636/yr
Seattle, WA
$86,490/yr
Our recommendation: Seattle, WA
Seattle offers $184 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Elgin
Seattle
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$67,636
$86,490
$18,854
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$4,115
$5,262
$1,147
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
90
126
-36 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,407
$3,370
$963
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,350
$2,050
$700
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,708
$1,892
$184
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.71×
1.56×
+0.15×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
6/10 (Moderate)
6/10 (Moderate)
+0
A vs B
Elgin — Full Details
Seattle — 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.