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Detroit vs Riverside: Cost of Living

Riverside is about 6% more expensive than Detroit, based on the BEA regional price parity index (U.S. average = 100): Detroit at 100.298, Riverside at 106.442.

Cost of living (U.S. avg 100)
Detroit: 100.298
Cost of living (U.S. avg 100)
Riverside: 106.442
Salary parity ($100K in Detroit)
$106K in Riverside

If you earn $100K in Detroit, you would need about $106K in Riverside to keep the same standard of living (price levels only; taxes on your specific income are separate).

Rents: the biggest difference

Detroit

Rent price parity: 94.69 (U.S. average = 100)

Riverside

Rent price parity: 129.312 (U.S. average = 100)

What common jobs pay in each city (after tax)

OccupationMedian (Detroit)Take-home (Detroit)Median (Riverside)Take-home (Riverside)
Software Developer$131K$96K$133K$94K
Data Scientist$103K$78K$113K$82K
Registered Nurse$97K$74K$134K$94K
Accountant$81K$63K$84K$64K
Mechanical Engineer$109K$82K$105K$77K
Marketing Manager$149K$108K$158K$108K
Electrician$82K$64K$73K$57K
Elementary School Teacher$65K$53K$99K$73K
Police Officer$78K$62K$102K$75K
Chef$61K$49K$64K$52K
Financial Analyst$102K$77K$101K$75K
Civil Engineer$93K$71K$115K$83K
Pharmacist----
Physical Therapist----
Dental Hygienist----
Web Developer----
Graphic Designer----
Paralegal$63K$51K$61K$50K
Plumber----
HVAC Technician$63K$51K$64K$52K

Taxes at a glance

Take-home assumes a single filer using the standard deduction. Detroit (Michigan state tax), Riverside (California state tax). A $100K salary nets about $76K in Detroit vs $74K in Riverside. Full assumptions: methodology.