Your salary is only half the story—what matters is how far that salary goes. A $90,000 offer in San Francisco might feel like $60,000 in purchasing power, while the same $90,000 in Austin could stretch like $110,000. Cost of living differences between cities can silently erode your financial progress, savings rate, and quality of life, or they can supercharge your ability to pay off debt, invest, and reach long-term goals. Understanding these differences before accepting a job offer, planning a move, or negotiating remote work is one of the most powerful financial decisions you can make.
Consider Maria, a software engineer in New York City earning $130,000. She pays $2,800/month for a small one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, spends $600/month on groceries and dining out, $150/month on transit, and faces an effective tax rate of 35% (federal + state + local). After rent, taxes, and essential expenses, she saves about $1,500/month—solid, but not enough to aggressively pay down her $80,000 student loans or save for a down payment. She receives a remote work offer from a Denver-based company at $105,000—a $25,000 salary cut on paper. Using a cost of living calculator, she discovers that $105,000 in Denver (where rent is $1,600/month, effective tax rate is 28%, and groceries cost 15% less) gives her the same purchasing power as $130,000 in NYC. She accepts the offer, moves to Denver, and suddenly saves $2,400/month—enough to pay off her loans in 3 years and start building real wealth.
Now consider David, a marketing manager in Dallas earning $75,000 with low cost of living (rent $1,200/month, no state income tax, low grocery costs). He's offered $95,000 to move to Seattle—a 27% raise that sounds attractive. He runs the numbers through a cost of living calculator and realizes that $95,000 in Seattle (rent $2,200/month, 9% state income tax, higher grocery/transportation costs) actually provides less purchasing power than his current $75,000 in Dallas. He counters with a request for $110,000 to truly match his current lifestyle plus a meaningful raise. The company agrees, and he moves with his eyes wide open to the financial trade-offs.
This calculator helps you make these trade-offs explicit. You'll see side-by-side comparisons of housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, childcare, utilities, taxes, and discretionary spending between any two cities—domestic or international. You can model different scenarios (renting vs. owning, single vs. family, high vs. low discretionary spending) and calculate the exact salary you need in your target city to maintain, improve, or intentionally downsize your lifestyle. You can also toggle tax considerations (critical when moving between high-tax and no-tax states) and PPP adjustments (essential for international moves) to ensure your comparison reflects real purchasing power, not just nominal salary numbers.
The stakes are high. The average American changes cities 11–12 times in their lifetime, often for career advancement or family reasons. Each move is a financial reset button—an opportunity to dramatically improve your savings rate and accelerate wealth-building, or a trap that leaves you paycheck-to-paycheck despite a higher salary. A single poorly negotiated relocation can cost you $50,000–$150,000 in lost purchasing power over 5–10 years, while a strategic move to a lower-cost city with remote work flexibility can accelerate your path to financial independence by a decade.
Beyond career moves, this tool helps you evaluate life decisions: choosing a college town, planning retirement relocation, considering digital nomad destinations, or deciding whether to accept a remote work policy that lets you leave expensive coastal cities. It transforms vague feelings about "expensive cities" into concrete numbers you can negotiate with, budget around, and plan your life with confidence.
Cost of living (COL) measures how much it costs to maintain a standard of living in different cities, considering housing, food, transportation, healthcare, utilities, childcare, taxes, and discretionary spending. When comparing cities, COL calculators normalize these expenses to help you understand salary adjustments needed to maintain your lifestyle.
COL comparisons use a "basket of goods" approach—a weighted set of categories representing typical household spending:
Rent: Uses market median rent for typical apartment/house sizes in each city. Renters avoid property tax, insurance, and maintenance but face annual rent increases (3–10% in hot markets).
Own: Estimates monthly ownership costs as PITI—Principal + Interest (mortgage payment), Property Tax (~1–2% of home value annually), and Insurance (~0.5–1% annually). Ownership builds equity but requires down payment, closing costs ($5k–$15k), and ongoing maintenance (~1% of home value/year). The calculator uses property price medians and typical mortgage rates to approximate monthly costs—not a lender quote.
COL calculations scale with number of adults and children. Housing remains relatively fixed (a family needs a 3-bedroom whether housing is cheap or expensive), but groceries, healthcare, childcare, and transportation scale per capita. For example:
When the Include taxes toggle is enabled, the calculator estimates state and local income taxes plus FICA/payroll taxes (7.65% for employees) to compute the gross salary needed to maintain your after-tax purchasing power. For example, moving from Texas (no state income tax) to California (up to 13.3% state tax) requires a 10–15% higher gross salary to achieve the same take-home pay.
Sales tax is implicitly included in category prices (e.g., groceries, dining out), but property tax is only modeled in the "Own" housing option. High-property-tax states (NJ, IL, TX) can add $500–$1,500/month to ownership costs.
PPP normalizes international comparisons by adjusting for differences in purchasing power across countries. For example, $1,000 in the U.S. might buy the same basket of goods as €850 in Germany or £750 in the UK after PPP adjustment. Enable PPP when comparing cities in different countries to account for currency strength and local price levels beyond nominal exchange rates.
Within-country comparisons (e.g., NYC vs. Dallas) don't need PPP—the calculator uses local price indices directly. PPP is most useful for cross-border relocation (e.g., San Francisco to London, or Toronto to Sydney).
The calculator supports multiple currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, etc.) and applies current exchange rates to all outputs. When comparing international cities, select the currency you're most familiar with (usually your current salary currency). Results display in that currency, making salary comparisons intuitive.
Exchange rates fluctuate daily; a 5–10% swing can significantly affect required salary estimates. For long-term planning, consider using 3-year average exchange rates instead of spot rates.
Follow these six steps to compare cost of living between cities and calculate your required salary:
Choose your current city (City A) and the city you're considering moving to (City B). Use the search bar to find cities by name. If comparing international cities, select the appropriate country for each. The calculator will load default cost data for both locations.
Choose your currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.) based on your current salary currency. All results will display in this currency.
Enter the number of adults and children in your household. This scales non-housing categories (groceries, healthcare, childcare) appropriately.
Select Rent or Own for your housing situation. Rent uses market median rents; Own estimates PITI (mortgage, property tax, insurance) based on median home prices and typical mortgage rates in each city.
Input your current annual gross salary in City A. The calculator will compute the required salary in City B to maintain the same standard of living. If you leave this blank, you'll still see cost breakdowns but no salary comparison.
Use your gross salary (before taxes) if the "Include taxes" toggle is enabled; use net/take-home if taxes are disabled.
The calculator pre-fills monthly spending for each category (housing, groceries, transportation, etc.) based on median City A prices. If your actual spending differs (e.g., you drive less, eat out more, have no childcare), override the City A values to reflect your lifestyle.
The calculator will then apply City B price indices to your customized basket, giving a personalized required salary estimate.
Include taxes: Enable this to factor in state/local income taxes and FICA when calculating required salary. Essential for moves between high-tax and low-tax states (e.g., NY → FL).
PPP adjustment: Enable when comparing international cities to normalize purchasing power across currencies. Not needed for within-country comparisons.
Click Compare Cities to generate:
Use these results to negotiate your salary offer, set relocation budgets, and plan housing/transportation strategies in the new city.
The Cost of Living Calculator uses price indices and category weighting to estimate the salary adjustment needed when moving between cities. Here's how the math works, with a complete worked example to show the calculation in action.
Each city has a composite cost of living index (base 100 = national average). If City A has index 95 and City B has index 140, the ratio is 140 ÷ 95 = 1.47—you need 47% more income to maintain the same lifestyle.
The calculator adjusts each category independently using category-specific price indices (housing, groceries, transportation, etc.), then sums to total monthly cost. If taxes are enabled, it grosses up the required salary to account for income tax burden.
When "Include taxes" is enabled, the calculator estimates your effective tax rate in both cities and adjusts the required salary upward to ensure you have the same after-tax purchasing power. Moving from a no-tax state (TX, FL) to a high-tax state (CA, NY) can require 10–15% higher gross salary.
PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) normalizes international purchasing power by adjusting for differences in price levels across countries. For example, $1,000 in the U.S. might equal €850 PPP-adjusted in Germany, even if the nominal exchange rate is $1 = €0.95.
Scenario:
Step-by-Step Calculation:
1. City A (NYC) Monthly Costs:
Housing (rent, 1BR): $2,800
Utilities: $180
Groceries: $450
Transportation (transit): $150
Healthcare: $350
Entertainment/Other: $500
Total monthly: $4,430
Total annual: $53,160
2. Apply Denver Price Indices:
Housing index: Denver 85 vs NYC 150 → ratio 0.567
Groceries index: Denver 95 vs NYC 110 → ratio 0.864
Transportation: Denver 100 vs NYC 105 → ratio 0.952
Healthcare: Denver 98 vs NYC 115 → ratio 0.852
Utilities: Denver 90 vs NYC 120 → ratio 0.750
Other: Denver 92 vs NYC 108 → ratio 0.852
3. City B (Denver) Monthly Costs:
Housing: $2,800 × 0.567 = $1,588
Utilities: $180 × 0.750 = $135
Groceries: $450 × 0.864 = $389
Transportation: $150 × 0.952 = $143
Healthcare: $350 × 0.852 = $298
Entertainment/Other: $500 × 0.852 = $426
Total monthly: $2,979
Total annual: $35,748
4. Tax Adjustment:
NYC effective tax rate: 35% (federal 24% + state 6.5% + local 3.8% + FICA 7.65% - standard deduction effect)
Denver effective tax rate: 28% (federal 24% + state 4.4% + FICA 7.65% - deduction)
Required net income Denver: $35,748
Required gross income Denver: $35,748 ÷ (1 - 0.28) = $49,650
5. Salary Comparison:
Current NYC salary: $130,000
Required Denver salary: $49,650
Difference: -62% (Denver is significantly cheaper)
Result: A $105,000 offer in Denver exceeds the required $49,650 and provides $105,000 × 0.72 (after-tax) = $75,600 take-home vs. $49,650 needed—a $25,950/year surplus for savings/investing.
Key insight: The NYC salary of $130,000 nets ~$84,500 after taxes. In Denver, a $105,000 salary nets ~$75,600, which buys the same lifestyle that costs $53,160/year in NYC—leaving $22,440/year more for savings vs. the NYC scenario.
You have offers for $110,000 in Boston and $95,000 in Austin. On paper, Boston pays 16% more. Using the calculator, you discover that $110,000 in Boston (housing $2,600/month rent, effective tax 33%) provides the same purchasing power as $78,000 in Austin (housing $1,400/month, effective tax 25%, no state income tax). The Austin offer of $95,000 actually gives you 22% more purchasing power—equivalent to a $134,000 Boston salary. You accept Austin and save an extra $12,000/year while enjoying a similar lifestyle, using the surplus to aggressively pay down debt.
Your company wants to relocate you from Phoenix ($85,000 salary) to San Francisco for a promotion at $115,000 (+35% raise). You run the numbers: Phoenix costs $3,200/month ($38,400/year) for your lifestyle, while SF costs $6,800/month ($81,600/year)—a 112% increase. With SF's higher taxes (39% effective vs. Phoenix 27%), the $115,000 offer nets $70,150, which covers $81,600/year costs with a deficit of $11,450/year. You counter with $145,000 to maintain your current savings rate plus a meaningful raise. HR agrees after seeing your detailed cost breakdown, and you move with financial confidence.
You earn $140,000 living in Los Angeles. Your company adopts permanent remote work and allows you to move anywhere. You use the calculator to compare LA to Raleigh, NC. LA costs $5,500/month ($66,000/year) for your lifestyle; Raleigh costs $3,100/month ($37,200/year)—a savings of $28,800/year. Even if your company reduces your salary by 10% to $126,000 for the lower-cost location, you net an extra $20,000/year in savings. You move to Raleigh, maintain your $140,000 salary (no pay cut), and suddenly save $40,000/year—enough to max out 401(k), Roth IRA, and build a 6-month emergency fund within one year.
Your employer offers an international assignment: $150,000 USD equivalent in London vs. your current $130,000 in Seattle. With PPP adjustment enabled, the calculator shows that London's cost of living (housing £2,200/month = $2,860, groceries 25% higher, transport costs similar) requires $178,000 USD equivalent to match your Seattle lifestyle. The $150,000 offer is $28,000 short. You negotiate for housing allowance (£1,000/month = $1,300), international school tuition reimbursement ($15,000/year), and a cost-of-living adjustment to $165,000 base. With these perks, your total package equals $195,000 equivalent—comfortably above the required $178,000 and allowing you to save/invest the difference.
Your spouse receives a job offer in Chicago ($90,000) while you're earning $105,000 remote in Nashville. Moving means your household income stays the same ($195,000 combined), but costs change. Nashville household costs: $4,800/month ($57,600/year). Chicago household costs: $6,400/month ($76,800/year) due to higher rent, property taxes, and childcare. The move costs an extra $19,200/year—equivalent to a $19,200 pay cut. You use this data to negotiate a $15,000 raise for your spouse, request remote work flexibility to visit Nashville family quarterly (saving on travel costs), and adjust your lifestyle in Chicago (smaller apartment, suburbs vs. downtown) to close the gap to $12,000/year. You accept the move with clear financial expectations rather than being surprised by budget strain.
Many people compare rent or mortgage costs between cities and assume that's the full picture. Housing is only 30–40% of total cost of living. Taxes, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and groceries can add up to more than housing differences. A city with cheap rent but expensive childcare ($2,000/month vs. $800/month elsewhere) or high state income tax (9% vs. 0%) can end up costing more overall. Always model the full basket of expenses—this calculator does that automatically, but if you're researching manually, don't skip categories.
A $120,000 salary in San Francisco sounds better than $85,000 in Nashville, but the SF salary might net less purchasing power after rent, taxes, and higher costs. What matters is discretionary income—what's left after essential expenses. Calculate your savings rate (% of income saved/invested each month) in both scenarios. If SF leaves you saving 5% while Nashville enables 25% savings, Nashville is the better financial choice for wealth-building, even with the lower salary. Use this calculator to compare real purchasing power, not nominal salary.
State income tax differences can swing required salary by 5–10%. Moving from Texas (0% state tax) to California (up to 13.3%) means a $100,000 salary in TX requires ~$113,000 in CA just to match after-tax income—before adjusting for cost of living. Always enable "Include taxes" in this calculator when comparing cities in different states. If your employer doesn't adjust for this, you'll be surprised by smaller paychecks and lower savings. Similarly, don't ignore local income taxes (NYC, Philadelphia add 1–4%) or higher property taxes in ownership scenarios.
The calculator defaults to median costs (median rent, median grocery spending, etc.). If you're frugal (cook at home, no car, minimal discretionary spending) or luxury-oriented (fine dining, premium housing, frequent travel), override the default categories to reflect your actual spending. A minimalist who spends $1,200/month in NYC might only need $800/month in Austin, while someone with expensive tastes might need $6,000/month in both cities. Personalize the inputs to get an accurate required salary estimate for your lifestyle, not an average person's.
The calculator shows ongoing monthly costs, but moving itself costs $3,000–$15,000 (movers, travel, security deposits, furniture, setup fees). Add 1–3 months of "adjustment period" expenses—eating out more while you find grocery stores, higher transportation costs while learning the city, buying household items, temporary housing overlap. Budget an extra $5,000–$20,000 for the first year beyond the salary comparison. If your employer offers relocation assistance ($5,000–$15,000), negotiate for it upfront. Otherwise, ensure your emergency fund covers moving costs plus 3–6 months of expenses in the new city.
When negotiating a relocation, present your cost-of-living analysis as a data-driven counteroffer. Say: "Based on housing, taxes, and lifestyle costs, I need $X to match my current purchasing power. To make this move worthwhile, I'm requesting $X + 10% for career growth." This reframes the discussion from "I want more money" to "the market requires this adjustment." Employers respect data over emotions—presenting a detailed category breakdown (from this calculator) makes your request irrefutable. If they can't meet your number, negotiate non-salary perks: relocation assistance ($10k–$20k), sign-on bonus, housing stipend, remote work flexibility (work from home 2 days/week = 40% commute cost savings), or annual cost-of-living adjustments tied to local inflation indices.
Remote work has decoupled income from location. If your company allows permanent remote work, move from a high-cost city (SF, NYC, LA) to a low-cost city (Austin, Raleigh, Nashville) while maintaining your coastal salary. A $150,000 SF salary that saves $1,000/month (7% savings rate after $5,500/month expenses) becomes a $150,000 Raleigh salary saving $4,500/month (36% savings rate after $2,500/month expenses). Over 10 years, that's $540,000 extra saved vs. $120,000—a $420,000 wealth gap that accelerates financial independence by 8–12 years. Use this calculator to identify the highest-salary-to-cost ratio cities for your field, then optimize around quality of life (weather, culture, proximity to family). Common geo-arbitrage moves: SF/NYC → Austin/Denver/Raleigh, Seattle → Boise/Spokane, Boston → Providence/Portland ME.
Don't just compare your current situation—model future scenarios. If you're planning to have children in 2–3 years, re-run the calculator with +1 child to see how childcare costs ($1,500–$2,500/month in high-COL cities) impact required salary. If you're considering buying a home in 5 years, toggle "Own" to see how property taxes and mortgage costs change the equation (owning in high-property-tax states like NJ, IL, TX adds $500–$1,500/month vs. renting). Model a "lifestyle upgrade" scenario (nicer apartment, dining out more, car vs. transit) and a "lean FIRE" scenario (minimalist spending, roommate, bike commute) to understand your flexibility. This prevents lifestyle creep from eroding the benefits of a raise or relocation.
Use this calculator in combination with other tools for a complete financial picture. Run the Commute Cost Calculator to compare transportation costs (e.g., $150/month NYC transit + 45 min commute vs. $400/month Dallas car + 30 min commute). Use the Mortgage Calculator to model rent vs. own break-even timelines in each city (renting makes sense if you'll move in <5 years; owning wins if you're staying 7+ years). Run the Salary / Take-Home Calculator to see exact after-tax income in each city, accounting for state/local tax differences. Layer these insights: "City B requires +20% salary, but I'll save $200/month on commute costs and $150/month by owning vs. renting, so the real required increase is only +15%." This multi-tool approach gives you unbeatable negotiation leverage and budget precision.
Cost of living isn't static—rent increases 3–10%/year in hot markets, property taxes rise 2–5%/year, childcare costs inflate 4–6%/year. Set a calendar reminder to re-run this calculator every 12 months with updated costs (current rent, actual grocery spending, new tax brackets). If your required salary increased by $8,000 but your actual salary only increased by $3,000 (annual raise), you've lost $5,000 in purchasing power—time to negotiate a larger raise, seek a promotion, or consider relocating to a lower-cost area. Tracking cost-of-living drift is especially critical in high-inflation periods (2021–2023 saw 15–30% rent increases in many cities). Employers won't proactively adjust your salary for local cost increases unless you request it with data. Annual re-analysis ensures you stay ahead of lifestyle erosion and maintain your target savings rate.
The Cost of Living Calculator provides several key outputs to help you plan your relocation and salary negotiations:
This is the gross annual income you need in City B to maintain the same standard of living as your current salary in City A. It accounts for:
The % difference shows the salary increase needed. For example, +30% means you need a 30% raise to match your current purchasing power. Negative percentages (e.g., -15%) mean City B is cheaper—you can maintain your lifestyle on a lower salary or save/invest the difference.
The breakdown table shows monthly costs for each category in both cities, highlighting differences:
Rent: Uses median market rents for typical unit sizes. Renters pay first/last/security upfront (~3× monthly rent, or $6k–$12k in high-COL cities) and face annual rent increases.
Own: Estimates monthly PITI (Principal + Interest + Property Tax + Insurance). Ownership requires down payment (10–20% of home price, or $50k–$150k in expensive markets), closing costs ($5k–$15k), and ongoing maintenance (~1% of home value/year, or $5k–$15k annually). The calculator assumes median home prices and typical mortgage rates—actual costs depend on your credit score, down payment, and lender terms.
Use the Mortgage Calculator for detailed ownership cost analysis, including amortization schedules and break-even vs. renting timelines.
When Include taxes is enabled, the calculator estimates:
The required salary adjusts upward in high-tax states to maintain the same after-tax purchasing power. For example, earning $100k in Texas (no state tax) requires ~$115k in California to net the same take-home.
PPP (Purchasing Power Parity): When enabled, the calculator adjusts for differences in purchasing power across countries. For example, $1,000 in the U.S. might equal €850 PPP-adjusted in Germany, even if the nominal exchange rate is $1 = €0.95. PPP ensures fair international comparisons by normalizing price levels.
Currency selection: All results display in your chosen currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.). Exchange rates update periodically; use 3-year averages for long-term planning to avoid volatility.
Estimates vs. Reality: The calculator uses median prices and index data from public sources (BLS, Census, local agencies). Actual costs vary by:
Treat required salary as a negotiation floor, not a ceiling. Build in a 10–20% buffer for unexpected costs (moving expenses, furniture, security deposits, lifestyle adjustments).
Common questions about cost of living comparisons, required salaries, taxes, PPP adjustments, and data accuracy.
Prices combine public indices (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census data) and curated samples from local markets. The dataset is refreshed periodically—typically quarterly—and normalized for comparability across cities. Recent inflation adjustments ensure cost estimates reflect current market conditions.
Yes—override any City A category to reflect your actual spending. Set childcare to $0 if you don't have children, adjust transportation if you bike instead of drive, or modify groceries if you eat out frequently. The required salary will scale City B prices to your customized basket, giving a personalized estimate.
PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) normalizes international purchasing power by adjusting price levels to a common base. It accounts for differences in currency strength beyond nominal exchange rates. Enable PPP when comparing cities in different countries (e.g., San Francisco to London) to ensure fair cost-of-living comparisons. Within-country comparisons (e.g., NYC to Dallas) don't need PPP.
If you enable 'Include taxes,' the calculator estimates state/local income taxes and FICA (7.65% payroll tax) to compute the gross salary needed to maintain after-tax purchasing power. Sales tax is implicitly included in category prices (groceries, dining, shopping). Property tax is modeled only in the 'Own' housing option as part of PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance).
The required salary is an estimate based on median prices and index data. Actual costs vary by neighborhood, lifestyle, market timing, and personal factors (health, car ownership, dietary preferences). Treat it as a negotiation floor—add a 10–20% buffer for unexpected costs like moving expenses, furniture, security deposits, and lifestyle adjustments. Use current rental/home listings and local cost data for precise budgeting.
Sparse or fast-changing markets are labeled 'Estimate' because data collection is less frequent or relies on model interpolation. These values use regional averages, neighboring city proxies, and statistical adjustments. As new data arrives, estimates are refined to actual observed prices. For critical decisions, supplement with local research (Zillow, Apartments.com, Numbeo).
Yes—select the country for each city and choose your preferred currency (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, etc.). The calculator applies current exchange rates to all outputs, making salary comparisons intuitive. Enable PPP adjustment for international comparisons to normalize purchasing power differences. Exchange rates fluctuate daily; consider using 3-year averages for long-term planning to avoid volatility.
The 'Own' option estimates monthly ownership costs as PITI—Principal + Interest (mortgage payment), Property Tax (~1–2% of home value annually), and Insurance (~0.5–1% annually). It uses median home prices and typical mortgage rates (e.g., 6–7% for 30-year fixed) to approximate monthly costs. This is not a lender quote—actual costs depend on your credit score, down payment, loan terms, and local tax rates. Use the Mortgage Calculator for detailed ownership analysis.
Yes, within-state moves can still have significant cost-of-living differences. For example, San Francisco to Sacramento has 35–45% lower housing costs despite being in the same state. The calculator models city-level price indices for housing, groceries, transportation, and other categories, making it useful for intra-state comparisons. State income tax will be the same, but local taxes, housing, and cost variations are captured. Use it for any move where you're considering a salary negotiation or budgeting for lifestyle changes.
This calculator focuses on financial costs—housing, groceries, transportation, taxes. Quality of life (weather, culture, walkability, crime, schools, proximity to family) is subjective and not modeled. Use the cost-of-living data as a baseline, then layer in personal preferences. For example, if City A costs $10,000/year less but has harsh winters you hate, the financial savings might not be worth the lifestyle trade-off. Conversely, if you love City B's culture and it only costs $5,000/year more, that premium might be acceptable. Combine this tool with research on crime stats, school ratings, climate data, and personal visits to make a holistic decision.
Run the calculator multiple times—compare each city to your current location (or a baseline city) to build a matrix of required salaries. For example, if you're in Chicago and comparing offers in Austin, Seattle, Boston, and Denver, calculate required salary for each. Then rank them by: (1) actual offer salary vs. required salary (surplus/deficit), (2) absolute purchasing power (discretionary income after expenses), (3) lifestyle fit. Create a spreadsheet with columns for city, offered salary, required salary, surplus/deficit, and qualitative factors (weather, family proximity, career growth). This systematic approach prevents decision paralysis when evaluating multiple opportunities.
Absolutely. Retirees often relocate to lower-cost cities to stretch fixed income (Social Security, pensions, retirement savings). Use the calculator to compare your current city to potential retirement destinations. Input your current annual spending (not salary) as the baseline, then see how far that same budget goes in lower-cost cities. For example, if you spend $60,000/year in NYC, that same $60,000 might provide a $90,000 equivalent lifestyle in Asheville, NC or Tucson, AZ. Factor in state taxes on retirement income (some states exempt Social Security and pensions), healthcare availability (access to quality hospitals), and proximity to family. Popular retirement arbitrage moves: NYC/Boston → Florida/North Carolina, California → Nevada/Arizona.
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Estimates based on sample data and user inputs.
Enter your current city and target city to see how living costs compare and what salary you'd need to maintain your lifestyle.
• City-to-city cost comparison
• Category-wise breakdown
• Required salary calculation
• PPP and inflation adjustments
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