Salary Comparison

Data Scientist Salary:
Boston, MA vs Bangalore

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Boston, MA
$158,941
/ year
+535%
difference
Bangalore
$25,034
/ year
Bottom line: Boston wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Boston
Bangalore
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$158,941โœ“ higher
$25,034
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$102,786โœ“ higher
$16,610
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$245,774โœ“ higher
$37,731
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$106,640โœ“ higher
$20,528
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$113,529โœ“ higher
$55,631
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—
0.45ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$102,786
$1,378,630โœ“ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$245,774
$3,131,673โœ“ higher

What if you move from Boston to Bangalore?

Gross salary change
$133,907
535% decrease
Take-home change
$86,112
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$57,898
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$158,941
P10: $102,786Median: $158,941P90: $245,774
Bangalore$25,034
P10: $1,378,630Median: $25,034P90: $3,131,673

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Data Scientist earn more in Boston or Bangalore?

The median Data Scientist salary in Boston, MA is $158,941/yr compared to โ‚น2,077,822/yr in Bangalore. Boston pays 535% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Data Scientist salary worth more in Boston or Bangalore after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $113,529/yr in a median-cost city, vs $55,631/yr for Bangalore. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Boston vs Bangalore?

After estimated taxes, a Data Scientist in Boston, MA takes home approximately $106,640/yr, vs $20,528/yr in Bangalore. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.