Salary Comparison
Patternmakers: Iowa City vs Kailua
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Iowa City, IA
$56,514/yr
Kailua, HI
$74,078/yr
Our recommendation: Iowa City, IA
Iowa City offers $409 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Iowa City
Kailua
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$56,514
$74,078
$17,564
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,438
$4,506
$1,068
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
91
148
-57 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,358
$3,835
$1,477
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,356
$2,206
$850
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,080
$671
+$409
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.46×
1.17×
+0.29×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
5/10 (Tight)
4/10 (Tight)
+1
A vs B
Iowa City — 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.