Salary Comparison
Electronics Engineers: Chattanooga vs San Francisco
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Chattanooga, TN
$117,108/yr
San Francisco, CA
$160,180/yr
Our recommendation: Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga offers higher purchasing power (10 vs 8/10), giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Chattanooga
San Francisco
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$117,108
$160,180
$43,072
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$7,124
$9,744
$2,620
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
83
155
-72 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,240
$4,155
$1,915
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,220
$2,680
$1,460
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$4,884
$5,589
$705
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
3.18×
2.35×
+0.83×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
10/10 (Comfortable)
8/10 (Comfortable)
+2
A vs B
Chattanooga — Full Details
San Francisco — 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.