Salary Comparison
Microbiologists: Ames vs Cambridge
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Ames, IA
$73,762/yr
Cambridge, MA
$124,580/yr
Our recommendation: Cambridge, MA
Cambridge offers $1,305 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Ames
Cambridge
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$73,762
$124,580
$50,818
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$4,487
$7,579
$3,092
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
89
152
-63 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,306
$4,093
$1,787
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,326
$2,650
$1,324
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$2,181
$3,486
$1,305
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.95×
1.85×
+0.10×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
7/10 (Moderate)
7/10 (Moderate)
+0
A vs B
Ames — 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.