Salary Comparison
Patternmakers: Berkeley vs Montgomery
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Berkeley, CA
$65,570/yr
Montgomery, AL
$50,421/yr
Our recommendation: Montgomery, AL
Montgomery offers $1,076 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Berkeley
Montgomery
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$65,570
$50,421
+$15,149
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,989
$3,067
+$922
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
148
74
+74 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,978
$1,980
+$1,998
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$2,550
$1,020
+$1,530
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$11
$1,087
$1,076
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.00×
1.55×
-0.55×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
3/10 (Tight)
6/10 (Moderate)
-3
A vs B
Berkeley — Full Details
Montgomery — 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.