Salary Comparison
Food Batchmakers: Ames vs Tacoma
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Ames, IA
$35,396/yr
Tacoma, WA
$45,060/yr
Our recommendation: Tacoma, WA
Tacoma offers $124 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Ames
Tacoma
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$35,396
$45,060
$9,664
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$2,153
$2,741
$588
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
89
103
-14 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,306
$2,770
$464
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,326
$1,620
$294
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$-153
$-29
$124
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
0.93×
0.99×
-0.06×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
3/10 (Tight)
3/10 (Tight)
+0
A vs B
Ames — Full Details
Tacoma — 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.