Salary Comparison
Patternmakers: Berkeley vs South Bend
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Berkeley, CA
$65,570/yr
South Bend, IN
$48,987/yr
Our recommendation: South Bend, IN
South Bend offers $1,079 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Berkeley
South Bend
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$65,570
$48,987
+$16,583
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,989
$2,980
+$1,009
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
148
70
+78 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,978
$1,890
+$2,088
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$2,550
$950
+$1,600
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$11
$1,090
$1,079
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.00×
1.58×
-0.58×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
3/10 (Tight)
6/10 (Moderate)
-3
A vs B
Berkeley — Full Details
South Bend — 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.