How this calculator works
Your monthly costs now are compared with the same costs in the new city. The yearly difference is grossed up for taxes, assuming about 25% of each extra dollar goes to tax, and added to your current salary.
Worked example
With the example values below: Equivalent salary, $94,500 (+22.5% in living costs). Change any number above to run your own.
What you enter
| Input | Example |
|---|---|
| Current salary | $80,000 |
| Monthly costs where you live now | |
| Housing | $1,800 |
| Groceries | $550 |
| Transportation | $400 |
| Healthcare | $350 |
| Everything else | $900 |
| Same costs in the new city | |
| Housing | $2,600 |
| Groceries | $620 |
| Transportation | $300 |
| Healthcare | $380 |
| Everything else | $1,000 |
What drives cost of living
Housing is usually the biggest difference between cities, often accounting for most of the gap. Groceries, transportation, healthcare and childcare also vary, as do state and local taxes. Moving from a low-cost area to a major coastal city can raise living costs by 50% or more, mostly through rent.
This calculator compares your own monthly costs in each place, which is more accurate than a city-wide index.
Evaluating a job offer in a new city
- Compare after-tax pay: state income tax ranges from zero to over 10%.
- Get real rent quotes for the kind of home you'd actually live in.
- Include commuting, parking and whether you'd need a car.
- Factor in childcare, which varies widely by city.
- Count one-time moving costs and any relocation package.
Using the result
The calculator grosses up the extra cost for taxes, assuming about 25% goes to tax, to estimate the salary needed to keep your standard of living. If a new offer falls short, negotiate or weigh career benefits against the cost. The total compensation calculator helps compare full offers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare cost of living between cities?
List your monthly costs now, estimate the same costs in the new city with real quotes for housing, then compare. Add the difference in state and local taxes.
How much salary do I need to move to a more expensive city?
Take the yearly increase in costs and add the tax on that extra income. If costs rise $12,000 a year, you'd need roughly $16,000 more in salary at a 25% tax rate.
What is the biggest factor in cost of living?
Housing, in almost every comparison. Rent or mortgage differences often account for most of the gap between cities.
Should I take a pay cut to move somewhere cheaper?
It can make sense if the drop in costs, especially housing and taxes, exceeds the pay cut after tax. Compare your full budget in both places.
Do remote workers get paid less in cheaper cities?
Some employers adjust pay by location and others don't. Ask before relocating.
Grow what this calculator projects.
TruthSayer AI sends quantitative stock signals across valuations, earnings and dark-pool activity, each one traded in its own funded account first.
Estimates for planning only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Tax tools use 2026 federal figures (brackets, $16,100 / $32,200 standard deduction, $19,000 gift exclusion, $15M lifetime exemption). Rates shown as defaults are examples; replace them with quotes you actually receive.