Salary Comparison
Traffic Technicians: Birmingham vs Costa Mesa
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Birmingham, AL
$50,357/yr
Costa Mesa, CA
$78,020/yr
Our recommendation: Birmingham, AL
Birmingham offers $228 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Birmingham
Costa Mesa
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$50,357
$78,020
$27,663
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,063
$4,746
$1,683
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
70
139
-69 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$1,814
$3,725
$1,911
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,043
$2,380
$1,337
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,249
$1,021
+$228
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.69×
1.27×
+0.42×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
6/10 (Moderate)
4/10 (Tight)
+2
A vs B
Birmingham — Full Details
Costa Mesa — 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.