Salary Comparison
Materials Scientists: Eugene vs Berkeley
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Eugene, OR
$106,049/yr
Berkeley, CA
$126,240/yr
Our recommendation: Eugene, OR
Eugene offers $172 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Eugene
Berkeley
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$106,049
$126,240
$20,191
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$6,451
$7,680
$1,229
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
96
148
-52 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,577
$3,978
$1,401
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,480
$2,550
$1,070
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$3,874
$3,702
+$172
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
2.50×
1.93×
+0.57×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
9/10 (Comfortable)
7/10 (Moderate)
+2
A vs B
Eugene — Full Details
Berkeley — 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.