Salary Comparison
Patternmakers: Charleston vs Kailua
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Charleston, SC
$55,797/yr
Kailua, HI
$74,078/yr
Our recommendation: Charleston, SC
Charleston offers $625 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Charleston
Kailua
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$55,797
$74,078
$18,281
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,394
$4,506
$1,112
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
81
148
-67 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,098
$3,835
$1,737
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,207
$2,206
$999
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,296
$671
+$625
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.62×
1.17×
+0.45×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
6/10 (Moderate)
4/10 (Tight)
+2
A vs B
Charleston — Full Details
Kailua — 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.