Salary comparison
Financial Managers: Boston vs Denver
Boston, MA pays about 8.5% more for financial managers on paper — $209,780 vs $193,400. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Boston comes out ahead by $16,380 a year in real buying power.
Boston, MA
$209,780
$164,560
$292,030
$100.85
100
$209,780/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Denver, CO
$193,400
$157,370
$249,360
$92.98
100
$193,400/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $16,380 a year (8.5%) in favor of Boston. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Boston runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Denver sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Boston is the better deal by $16,380 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Denver to Boston for this role, the raise needs to beat 8.5% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do financial managers earn more, Boston or Denver?
Boston pays $209,780 on median — about 8.5% more than Denver ($193,400). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Boston. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Boston gives you roughly$209,780 of real buying power versus $193,400 in the other city.