Will your salary keep up if you move?
Pick where you live now and where you are headed. See the salary you would need in the new city to keep the exact same lifestyle, how much more or less expensive it is, and what happens to your buying power.
Your move
Index where 100 is the US national average. A city at 150 costs 50% more than average.
What the move really means
Where the money goes each month
Estimated monthly spending by category
How the cities stack up
Relocation scorecard
Salary you would need in other cities
Based on your current city and salary. This is the pay that buys the same lifestyle in each destination.
| City | Index | Salary needed | Difference | Cost change |
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Cost of living, explained
Understanding Cost of Living Indexes
A cost of living index is a numerical score that compares the overall expense of living in one location against a baseline, typically the national average set at 100. An index of 130 indicates that area costs 30% more than average, while an index of 85 means it costs 15% less. These indexes aggregate prices for housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, utilities, and other essentials, providing a standardized way to compare locations side by side.
Housing: The Biggest Factor in Cost of Living
Housing costs account for the largest share of cost of living variation between locations, typically representing 30-40% of the overall index. Median home prices range from under $200,000 in states like Mississippi and West Virginia to over $700,000 in California and Hawaii. Similarly, average monthly rents for a two-bedroom apartment can differ by a factor of three or more between affordable Midwest cities and expensive coastal metros like San Francisco or New York.
State Tax Differences and Your Take-Home Pay
State income taxes can significantly affect your take-home pay when comparing job offers across state lines. Moving from a state with no income tax, like Texas or Florida, to a high-tax state like California (top rate 13.3%) or New York (top rate 10.9%) can reduce your take-home pay by thousands of dollars annually. When evaluating a relocation, calculate the net salary difference after applying both state tax rates to get an accurate comparison.
Remote Work and Geoarbitrage
Geoarbitrage is the strategy of earning income in a high-cost market while living in a lower-cost area, maximizing your purchasing power. Remote work has made this increasingly accessible, allowing employees to keep metropolitan salaries while relocating to cities where housing, groceries, and daily expenses cost significantly less. A $100,000 salary goes roughly 40% further in a city with a cost of living index of 80 compared to one at 120, effectively giving you the lifestyle of a much higher income.
Common questions
What does cost of living index mean?
A cost of living index compares expenses between locations. An index of 100 is the national average. A score of 120 means living there costs 20% more than average, while 80 means 20% less.
What is the most expensive state to live in?
Hawaii and California consistently rank as the most expensive states, driven primarily by housing costs. Massachusetts, New York, and Washington DC also have high cost of living indexes.
How much salary adjustment do I need when relocating?
Use the cost of living ratio between cities. If you earn $75,000 in a city with index 95 and move to one with index 120, you need roughly $94,700 to maintain the same standard of living.
What factors are included in cost of living?
Major factors include housing (typically 30-40% of the index), groceries, transportation, healthcare, utilities, and taxes. Housing varies the most between locations.
Estimates for planning only. Cost of living indexes are approximate composites and do not include state income taxes, your personal spending habits, or job-specific pay differences. Verify local prices and net pay before you decide to move.