Salary Comparison
Production: Boulder vs Topeka
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Boulder, CO
$67,214/yr
Topeka, KS
$46,737/yr
Our recommendation: Topeka, KS
Topeka offers $324 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Boulder
Topeka
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$67,214
$46,737
+$20,477
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$4,089
$2,843
+$1,246
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
127
68
+59 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$3,403
$1,833
+$1,570
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$2,150
$920
+$1,230
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$686
$1,010
$324
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.20×
1.55×
-0.35×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
4/10 (Tight)
6/10 (Moderate)
-2
A vs B
Boulder — 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.