Cost of Living Calculator
Compare the cost of living between cities and calculate the salary you need to maintain your standard of living when relocating.
Comparison Results
How to Use This Tool
- Enter your current annual salary in the Current Annual Salary field.
- Select your current city from the Current City dropdown.
- Select the city you are considering moving to from the Target City dropdown.
- Optionally, click "Show monthly expense breakdown" and enter your actual monthly spending in each category (housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, utilities).
- Review the equivalent salary needed in the target city, the percentage cost difference, and the adjusted monthly expense breakdown.
Formula & How It Works
Equivalent Salary Formula
Equivalent Salary = Current Salary × (Target City Index ÷ Current City Index)Each city has a cost of living index relative to a baseline of 100 (the US national average). Multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two indices tells you the salary needed to maintain the same purchasing power in the target city.
Cost Difference Percentage
Cost Difference % = ((Target Index ÷ Current Index) − 1) × 100This shows how much more or less expensive the target city is compared to your current city, as a percentage.
Adjusted Expense (per category)
Adjusted Expense = Current Monthly Expense × (Target Index ÷ Current Index)Each individual expense category (housing, groceries, etc.) is scaled by the same cost ratio to estimate what it would cost in the target city.
Practical Examples & Common Use Cases
Example: US Average to New York, NY
A $75,000 salary at the US Average (index 100) moving to New York, NY (index 187): $75,000 × (187 ÷ 100) = $140,250 needed in New York to maintain the same standard of living — a 87.0% increase.
Example: Chicago, IL to Austin, TX
A $90,000 salary in Chicago (index 107) moving to Austin (index 110): $90,000 × (110 ÷ 107) = $92,523 — only a 2.8% increase, since the two cities have similar cost levels.
Example: San Francisco, CA to Kansas City, MO
A $130,000 salary in San Francisco (index 179) moving to Kansas City (index 91): $130,000 × (91 ÷ 179) = $66,089 would maintain the same lifestyle — costs drop by about 49.2%. A $1,500/month rent in San Francisco would adjust to roughly $762/month in Kansas City using the same ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cost of living index measures the relative cost of goods and services in a city compared to a baseline (usually the national average at 100). An index of 150 means that city is 50% more expensive than average.
The indices provide a general estimate based on average costs for housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. Individual experiences may vary significantly based on lifestyle, neighborhood, and personal spending habits.
Housing is by far the largest factor, often accounting for 30-40% of the total cost difference between cities. A city where rent is twice as high can dramatically affect your overall cost of living.
Yes, cost of living is a standard factor in salary negotiations, especially for relocation. Use the equivalent salary figure from this calculator as a starting point when discussing compensation with a new employer in a different city.
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