The Salary Index

Salary Comparison

Helpersextraction Workers: Duluth vs Columbia

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

Best Value

Duluth, MN

$46,250/yr

Take-home$2,814/mo
Disposable$597/mo
Lifestyle4/10 ยท Tight

Columbia, MD

$53,159/yr

Take-home$3,234/mo
Disposable$-99/mo
Lifestyle3/10 ยท Tight
๐Ÿ†

Our recommendation: Duluth, MN

Duluth offers $696 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.

Full Breakdown

Duluth

Columbia

Diff (Aโˆ’B)

Annual Gross Salary

$46,250

$53,159

$6,909

A vs B

Monthly Take-Home

After estimated federal + state taxes

$2,814

$3,234

$420

A vs B

Cost of Living Index

Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100

83

124

-41 pts

A vs B

Monthly Living Costs

Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare

$2,217

$3,333

$1,116

A vs B

Monthly Rent

$1,180

$2,050

$870

A vs B

Monthly Disposable

$597

$-99

+$696

A vs B

Purchasing Power Score

Take-home รท living costs. Higher is better

1.27ร—

0.97ร—

+0.30ร—

A vs B

Lifestyle Score

4/10 (Tight)

3/10 (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.