Cost of Living Calculator
Moving between cities changes what your salary is worth. Enter your current salary and each city's cost-of-living index to see exactly what you need to earn to keep the same lifestyle.
How to use this calculator
- Enter current annual salary.
- Enter cost-of-living index — current city.
- Enter cost-of-living index — target city.
- Your results appear instantly below and update as you change the numbers.
How this calculator works
The calculator applies the standard cost-of-living index method: required salary = current salary × (target index ÷ current index). An index of 100 is the national average; 130 means 30% pricier, 85 means 15% cheaper. The result tells you the salary in the new city that buys the same standard of living. Worked example: earning $75,000 in a city at index 100 and moving to one at index 130 means you need about $97,500 — a 30% raise just to keep the same purchasing power.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cost-of-living index?
An index compares the price of a basket of goods and services in one place against a baseline — usually 100 = national average. A city at 120 is 20% more expensive than average; a city at 90 is 10% cheaper. Housing usually dominates the difference, so cities with expensive real estate have the highest indexes.
Why index 100 for my current city?
Use 100 when you just want the national-average comparison, or look up both cities' real indexes (sites like NerdWallet and BestPlaces publish them). The math only needs the ratio, so what matters is that both numbers come from the same source.
Does this include taxes?
No — the classic index covers goods and services, not state and local income taxes. Two cities at the same index can still differ after tax; pair this tool with a paycheck calculator to compare take-home pay in each state.
Is a higher salary in a pricier city actually better?
Compare the adjusted salary to the offer. If the new offer is above the adjusted figure, you come out ahead; if it is below, you are effectively taking a pay cut. Remember that savings and debt repayments also scale with the index, so the ratio applies to your whole budget, not just rent.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates for general information only and do not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures reflect 2026 rules and may change. Always confirm current limits and consult a qualified professional before making decisions. Official figures: IRS.gov · 2026 limits per IRS tax inflation adjustments.