Salary Comparison
Ship Engineers: Santa Fe vs Lowell
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Santa Fe, NM
$97,723/yr
Lowell, MA
$147,760/yr
Our recommendation: Lowell, MA
Lowell offers $2,104 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite comparable pay.
Full Breakdown
Santa Fe
Lowell
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$97,723
$147,760
$50,037
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$5,945
$8,989
$3,044
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
74
106
-32 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$1,918
$2,858
$940
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,103
$1,650
$547
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$4,027
$6,131
$2,104
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
3.10×
3.15×
-0.05×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
10/10 (Comfortable)
10/10 (Comfortable)
+0
A vs B
Santa Fe — Full Details
Lowell — 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.