Got a job offer in another city? A cost of living comparison answers the only question that matters: what salary in the new city buys you the same life you have now. A $90,000 salary goes much further in Houston than in New York, where housing alone runs more than three times higher. This calculator converts your current salary into its purchasing-power twin, city by city.
The comparison runs on cost of living indices, with the US national average set to 100. A city at 150 costs roughly 50% more than average overall; one at 92 costs about 8% less. Each city also carries separate indices for housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare. Housing dominates, but other categories shift too — Seattle's utilities run cheap on hydropower, Boston's heating bills push its index up.
Your equivalent salary keeps your purchasing power equal, pre-tax. The monthly table shows where the money actually goes in each city, so you can spot the real pain points — usually rent. If your offer clears the equivalent figure with room to spare, you're upgrading; if it lands under it, you're taking a lifestyle cut, no matter how big the headline raise looks.
How to use the Cost of Living Comparison Calculator
- Pick your current city — 15 major US, UK, and other English-speaking cities included.
- Enter your current gross salary (annual, before tax) and household size.
- Pick the city you're considering and click Compare Cities.
- Read the result: equivalent salary, cost difference, and a monthly budget breakdown.
Tips for comparing cities smartly
- Compare the equivalent salary, not the raw offer — a 10% raise with a 40% rent increase is a pay cut.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cost of living index?
An index expresses how expensive a city is against a baseline. Here the US national average is 100, so a city at 150 costs roughly 50% more overall and one at 92 costs about 8% less. Each spending category has its own sub-index.
How accurate are cost of living comparisons?
They describe an average household, not yours. Check real rents and your own spending before accepting a relocation offer.
Which city needs the highest salary?
San Francisco tops the list at around 171, driven by housing at triple the national average. Houston, Manchester, and Chicago are the most affordable included here.
Does the equivalent salary include taxes?
No — the comparison equalizes purchasing power on a pre-tax basis. State and local income taxes differ widely, so factor them in separately when comparing real take-home pay.
Can I compare US and UK cities?
Yes — London and Manchester use UK figures converted to the same index scale in USD, so you can compare New York to London directly. Currency swings shift results, so treat these as approximate.
Index figures are estimates from recent survey data, for personal comparison only. Actual costs vary by household, lifestyle, and currency movements. This tool is not financial advice.