Cost of Living Comparator

How cost of living indices work

The calculator compares two cities using a composite cost of living index built from housing, food, transport, healthcare, and entertainment costs. A score of 100 is set to New York City as the baseline.

Worked example with real numbers

Moving from New York (index 100) to Austin (index 72) | Current salary: $120,000 | Current rent: $3,200/month

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming all expenses scale equally. Housing in Austin is 40% cheaper than NYC; groceries are only 10% cheaper; international flights may be more expensive. Composite indices are averages — individual line items vary much more.
• Ignoring state and local income tax differences. Texas has no state income tax; New York State charges up to 10.9%. On a $120,000 salary, this alone saves $10,000+/year — more than the composite index suggests.
• Not accounting for car costs in less urban areas. Cities like Austin, Phoenix, and Charlotte are car-dependent — a second vehicle adds $800–$1,200/month. NYC residents often have no car at all.
• Treating the comparison as permanent. Cost of living differentials change. Austin grew 35% more expensive between 2020 and 2024 as remote workers relocated there. Project 5 years ahead, not just today.
• Ignoring quality of life factors that have financial value. Longer commutes have a quantifiable cost: studies value one hour of commuting at roughly $10–$15 in wellbeing terms. A $5,000 salary cut to work remotely may be a genuine raise.

Related tools and reading

Once you have the equivalent salary figure, use the Salary Negotiator to check if your offered salary is competitive in the destination city. The Take-Home Pay Calculator shows the actual net difference after state taxes in both locations. The Budget Planner helps you plan finances in the new city from day one.