Salary Comparison
Judges: Seattle vs Cambridge
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Seattle, WA
$132,960/yr
Cambridge, MA
$221,710/yr
Our recommendation: Cambridge, MA
Cambridge offers $4,676 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Seattle
Cambridge
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$132,960
$221,710
$88,750
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$8,088
$13,487
$5,399
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
126
152
-26 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,370
$4,093
$723
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$2,050
$2,650
$600
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$4,718
$9,394
$4,676
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
2.40×
3.30×
-0.90×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
8/10 (Comfortable)
10/10 (Comfortable)
-2
A vs B
Seattle — Full Details
Cambridge — 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.