Cost of Living Comparison
Compare the real cost of living between any two US cities and see what salary you'd need to maintain your lifestyle.
Cost index difference
▼ 91%
Equivalent salary in Houston
$38,503
You'd need $36,497 less
Category Breakdown
Index: 100 = US national average. Source: BLS & C2ER cost of living data, 2025.
How to use a cost-of-living comparison properly
Cost-of-living indexes compare the relative price of a similar basket of goods and services across locations, using 100 as the US national average. They're most useful for estimating the salary you'd need to maintain the same lifestyle after a move, but they're an approximation, not a precise prediction, since individual spending habits (renting vs owning, commute distance, dining out frequency) can shift the real difference significantly.
What to consider before relocating
Housing dominates the index for a reason
Housing typically accounts for the largest share of cost-of-living differences between US cities, a move from a low-cost to a high-cost metro can mean paying 2-3x more in rent or mortgage for a comparable home.
Salary numbers alone can be misleading
A job offer with a 20% pay increase can actually represent a pay cut in real terms if it requires moving to a city with a 40% higher cost of living, always compare adjusted, not nominal, salaries.
State and local taxes compound the difference
Cost of living indexes generally don't include income tax differences, combine this tool with our US State Tax Calculator to see the full financial picture of a potential move.
Remote work has changed the calculation
If your salary isn't tied to your location, moving from a high-cost to a low-cost city while keeping your pay can significantly increase your effective purchasing power and savings rate.
Related tools
Worked example: moving to a city 30% more expensive
Suppose your current city has an index of 100 and the new one is 130. To keep the same standard of living on a $70,000 salary, you would need about 70,000 × 130 ÷ 100 = $91,000. An offer of $85,000 would be a real pay cut of about $6,000 in purchasing power, even though it looks like a raise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an index of 100 mean?
It represents the national average. A city scoring 120 is about 20% more expensive than average, and one scoring 85 is 15% cheaper.
Does the index include state income tax?
Generally no. Use the US State Tax Calculator alongside this tool to compare take-home pay between states.
How accurate is the comparison?
It is an average based on a typical basket of goods. Your own housing choice and lifestyle can move the real figure up or down.
