Cost of Living Comparison Calculator
Example: Your current salary: 90000 $ · Origin city cost index: 100 · Destination city cost index: 145
| Salary needed to match lifestyle | $130,500 |
| Raise (or cut) needed | $40,500 |
| Cost-of-living change | 45.00% |
Worked example
Suppose you earn $90,000 where the cost-of-living index is 100, and you are eyeing a city with an index of 145. Multiplying $90,000 by 145/100 gives about $130,500 — the salary you would need there to live the same way you do now. That is a $40,500 gap, or a 45% higher cost of living. If the job offer is only $110,000, this tool shows you would effectively be taking a pay cut in real terms.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the cost-of-living index numbers come from?
Public indices are published by sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics regional price parities, the Council for Community and Economic Research, and several relocation sites. Most set a national or benchmark city to 100, so a city at 145 is 45% more expensive. Use the same index source for both cities so they are directly comparable.
Does this include taxes?
A pure cost-of-living index captures housing, groceries, transportation, and services, but usually not income taxes. If you are moving between a no-income-tax state and a high-tax one, run our relocation salary tool as well to layer state tax on top of the cost-of-living change.
Why is housing such a big driver?
Housing is typically the largest single line in a household budget, so it dominates the index. Two cities can have similar grocery and gas prices yet wildly different rent, which is why the equivalent-salary number can jump so much for expensive metros.
Is a higher salary always worth the move?
Not necessarily. If the equivalent salary this tool calculates is higher than the offer, your real spending power falls even though the number on your paycheck rises. Compare the offer to the equivalent salary, not to your current salary, to see the true picture.