Cost of Living Comparison Calculator
Compare two cities by cost index and find the salary you need to maintain the same standard of living.
Your details
100 = US national average
Taxes & housing
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This calculator runs entirely on your device. Nothing you enter is uploaded, stored, or sold. How this works
Equivalent salary needed
$151,525
To match $110,000 of purchasing power, adjusted for state income tax
Includes your inputs, the full breakdown, and every row of the table.
Cost of living difference
+45.0%
Before tax adjustment
$159,500
Housing cost change
+$14,400/yr
Raise required
37.8%
- Current salary
- $110,000
- Cost index ratio (145 ÷ 100)
- 1.450
- Cost-adjusted salary
- $159,500
- Current state tax (5.0%)
- - $5,500
- New state tax (0.0%)
- - $0
- Tax-adjusted equivalent
- $151,525
- Annual housing difference
- +$14,400
| Metro area | Cost index | Salary equal to yours |
|---|---|---|
| National average | 100 | $110,000 |
| New York City | 187 | $205,700 |
| San Francisco | 179 | $196,900 |
| Seattle | 142 | $156,200 |
| Boston | 148 | $162,800 |
| Denver | 112 | $123,200 |
What this means
- Cost of living indices are weighted averages across housing, groceries, transport, healthcare, and utilities. Housing drives almost all of the variance between cities — the other categories differ far less than people assume.
- The lower state income tax in the new location offsets part of the higher cost of living. Check property and sales tax too — no-income-tax states often make it up elsewhere.
- Index numbers here are approximate. Use them for a first pass, then compare actual rent listings and grocery prices for the specific neighbourhoods you are considering.
How the cost of living comparison calculation works
A cost of living index sets the national average at 100, so a city at 145 is 45% more expensive across a standard basket of goods. Multiplying your salary by the ratio of the two indices gives the nominal equivalent.
That first-pass number misses two things that often dominate the decision. State income tax can swing take-home pay by five to ten percent, and housing — the largest single expense and the biggest driver of index differences — varies enormously within a metro area. Comparing actual rents for the specific neighbourhoods you would consider is worth more than any index.
Frequently asked questions
How much more do I need to earn in a more expensive city?
Multiply your salary by the ratio of cost indices. Moving from a city at 100 to one at 145 needs a 45% raise for equivalent purchasing power, before accounting for any state tax difference.
Do no-income-tax states actually save money?
Sometimes. Texas and Washington have no income tax but higher property or sales taxes respectively. The net benefit depends heavily on whether you own property and how much you spend.
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Disclaimer. This calculator is provided for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal, medical, or engineering advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and the assumptions described above. Confirm any figure with a qualified professional before acting on it.