Cost of Living Calculator
Compare living costs between US cities and find the equivalent salary to maintain your lifestyle.
Compare Cities
You'd need to earn
$142,196/yr
in San Francisco, CA for the same standard of living
Cost Difference
+67.3%
Salary Difference
+$57,196
COL Index
107 → 179
Category Breakdown
Disclaimer
Cost of living indices are approximate and based on city averages. Individual costs vary by neighborhood, lifestyle, and household size.
Most and Least Expensive US Cities
| Most Expensive | Index | Least Expensive | Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 180 | Memphis, TN | 78 |
| New York, NY | 187 | Oklahoma City, OK | 82 |
| Honolulu, HI | 170 | El Paso, TX | 80 |
| Boston, MA | 152 | Indianapolis, IN | 84 |
| Washington, DC | 152 | Kansas City, MO | 85 |
Index: 100 = national average
What Drives Cost of Living Differences?
Housing is the #1 factor — it accounts for 30-40% of most budgets and varies the most between cities. A 2-bedroom apartment that costs $3,500/month in San Francisco runs $1,200 in Dallas. Beyond housing, groceries vary 10-20%, transportation 15-30%, and healthcare 10-25%. State income tax (0% in TX, FL, WA vs 13.3% top rate in CA) also makes a significant difference.
Equivalent Salary Explained
If you earn $80,000 in Austin (cost index 95) and move to Seattle (index 145), you'd need roughly $122,000 to maintain the same purchasing power. This doesn't account for quality of life factors, commute changes, or state tax differences — just raw cost parity.
BLS — Regional Cost Data→Frequently Asked Questions
Should I negotiate salary when relocating?
Absolutely. Present cost of living data to justify a higher salary. Moving from a low-cost area to a high-cost city without a salary adjustment means a real pay cut. Some companies offer COL adjustments automatically; others require negotiation.
Does remote work change the equation?
Yes — some companies pay based on the employee's location, others on the company's headquarters. "Geo-adjusted" pay means moving to a cheaper city could lower your salary. Fully remote roles with location-agnostic pay offer the best arbitrage opportunity.
See also: Relocation Cost Calculator and Job Offer Comparator.