Cost of Living Comparison Calculator
Compare cost of living between cities using purchasing-power-parity (PPP) factors. See what salary you'd need to maintain your standard of living.
What this calculates
Moving city changes your cost of living dramatically. A $100K salary in San Francisco doesn't equal $100K in Austin. This calculator uses purchasing-power-parity factors (rent, food, transport, utilities) to translate a salary into the equivalent needed in another city to maintain the same lifestyle.
Formula & how it works
Equivalent salary = source_salary × (target_col_index ÷ source_col_index). COL indices are rebased against a chosen city (often NYC = 100). A city with index 80 is 80 % as expensive as NYC. Rent typically swings most (50-200 % range); food and groceries less (70-130 %).
Worked example
$120K in San Francisco (index 140) → moving to Austin (index 95). Equivalent = 120K × (95/140) = $81,400. So a $90K Austin offer is actually a raise. Going the other way: $90K Austin → SF needs 90K × (140/95) = $132,600 to break even.
Frequently asked questions
Where do these indices come from?
Numbeo, Mercer, Expatistan, BEA all publish them. Methods differ slightly. For a rough comparison, all are within ~10 %. For precise relocation math, do your own rent and grocery research at the new city.
What does the index include?
Typically rent, groceries, transport, utilities, restaurants. Sometimes healthcare, taxes, childcare. Check the source. Tax differences alone can be ±15 % between US states.
Doesn't 'salary equivalent' miss promotions?
Yes. Same lifestyle is the floor, not the optimum. Lower-COL cities mean savings can grow faster on the same equivalent salary — useful for FIRE planning.
What about international moves?
Same math, plus FX rates and tax-system differences. Use multiple sources. A $200K US offer to a UK-based equivalent isn't simply USD/GBP — UK has much higher income tax, different NI, but also free healthcare.