Salary Comparison
Patternmakers: Alexandria vs Topeka
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Alexandria, VA
$60,098/yr
Topeka, KS
$48,270/yr
Our recommendation: Topeka, KS
Topeka offers $947 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Alexandria
Topeka
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$60,098
$48,270
+$11,828
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,656
$2,936
+$720
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
130
68
+62 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,500
$1,833
+$1,667
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$2,150
$920
+$1,230
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$156
$1,103
$947
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.04×
1.60×
-0.56×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
3/10 (Tight)
6/10 (Moderate)
-3
A vs B
Alexandria — Full Details
Topeka — 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.