The same salary can mean a comfortable life in one city and a tight budget in another. This calculator compares the cost of living between locations so you can understand what income you would need to maintain your standard of living after a move.
What drives cost-of-living differences
Housing is by far the largest factor, often varying two- or threefold between cities, but transportation, food, healthcare, taxes, and utilities all contribute. A cost-of-living comparison combines these categories into an index so you can see the overall difference rather than just rent.
How to read the comparison
The calculator expresses the difference as the income needed in a new location to match your current lifestyle. If a city is 30% more expensive, an $80,000 salary there provides the same standard of living as roughly $61,500 where you are now — meaning you would need a raise just to break even.
A worked example
Moving from a mid-cost city to one where costs are 40% higher, a $70,000 salary would need to become about $98,000 to keep the same lifestyle. Moving the other direction — to a city 20% cheaper — that $70,000 stretches like $87,500, effectively giving you a raise without changing jobs.
Using the results wisely
- Weigh state income tax differences, which can meaningfully change take-home pay between locations.
- Remember that averages hide neighborhood-level variation; research specific areas within a city.
- Factor in one-time moving costs and lifestyle changes, not just recurring expenses.
- A lower cost of living can accelerate savings goals dramatically even if your salary stays flat or drops slightly.