How is cost of living calculated?

Cost of living indices compare prices of goods and services across locations, including housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare. A score of 100 represents the US average. 150 means 50% more expensive, 80 means 20% cheaper.

What salary do I need to maintain my lifestyle in an expensive city?

Multiply your current salary by the cost ratio between cities. For example, if moving from Austin (index 106) to SF (index 176), you need 1.66x your current salary. A $75K salary in Austin = $124K needed in SF.

What affects cost of living the most?

Housing is the biggest factor, typically 30-40% of expenses and varies most between cities. NYC and SF have housing costs 2-3x the national average. Other major factors include transportation, healthcare, and food.

Should I move to a cheaper city for remote work?

If your salary stays the same while costs decrease, your purchasing power increases significantly. Moving from SF to Austin with the same salary is like getting a 66% raise in buying power. Consider quality of life factors too.

For AgentsNEW

Back

lifestyle-tools

Cost of Living Comparison Calculator

Compare cost of living between cities including housing, food, transportation, and lifestyle costs. Calculate salary needed to maintain your lifestyle in a new location.

Cost of Living Comparison Calculator

Current Annual Salary ($)*

Current City*

Target City*

Current Monthly Housing Cost ($)*

Household Size*

What is Cost of Living Comparison Calculator?

A cost of living comparison calculator compares expenses between two cities or regions, showing how much salary you need in a new location to maintain the same standard of living. Accounts for differences in housing costs, groceries, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and utilities. If you earn $70k in Austin and move to San Francisco, you need $130k+ for equivalent lifestyle due to 85% higher cost of living. Essential for job relocation decisions, salary negotiations, remote work location planning, and evaluating cost-benefit of career moves. Uses real data from cost of living indices.

Key Benefits & Use Cases

Make smart relocation decisions by understanding true cost differences—$90k offer in NYC might provide lower quality of life than $65k in Nashville due to housing costs. Negotiate salaries effectively during relocations using concrete data: "My $75k Phoenix salary equals $110k in Boston, so I need $105k minimum." Evaluate remote work location strategies by finding lower cost cities with same amenities and cultural offerings. Compare international moves accurately: US salary may go much further in Portugal, Mexico, or Thailand. Avoid financial mistakes of moving without understanding expenses—many people relocate for higher salary only to find less disposable income after cost of living. Students use this to choose affordable college cities, retirees to pick cost-effective retirement destinations.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your current city and salary, then target city you're considering. Calculator uses cost indices to show salary needed in new city for equivalent lifestyle, percentage difference in major expense categories (housing typically varies most, 50-300% differences between metros), and overall cost comparison. Adjust for personal spending patterns by weighting categories differently if you don't own a car or eat out rarely. For job offers, use target salary calculator to counter-offer appropriately. Remember state income tax differences: no income tax in Texas, Florida, Washington versus 13% in California can equal $10k+ annually. Consider quality of life factors beyond costs: commute times, weather, culture, schools.

Related Calculators

Mortgage Payment Calculator

Calculate your monthly mortgage payment including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance (PITI). Get accurate estimates for home loan affordability and compare different scenarios.

finance