Cost of Living City Comparison
Compare the real value of your salary between two cities side by side.
A $100K salary in San Francisco doesn't buy the same lifestyle as $100K in Austin. Cost of living differences between cities can be dramatic — San Francisco is 87% more expensive than the US average, while cities like Dallas and Raleigh sit right at or below average. This calculator translates your salary between cities so you can make informed decisions about job offers and relocations.
A $100,000 salary in San Francisco, CA is equivalent to $57,542 in Austin, TX. Moving to Austin, TX would feel like a 42,458/year raise!
City comparison
San Francisco, CA
$100,000
COL: 179
Austin, TX
$57,542
COL: 103
Equivalent salary
+$42,458
COL difference
-42%
How to use this calculator
Your salary — Your current or offered salary in the origin city. This is the baseline for comparison.
Current city — The city where you currently earn this salary. Select from the list of major US cities.
Target city — The city you're considering moving to. The calculator shows what salary you'd need to maintain the same lifestyle.
Real-world examples
SF to Austin: $150K
SF COL: 179, Austin COL: 103. $150K in SF = ~$86K in Austin. That's a $64K difference! Many tech workers take a pay cut to move to Austin and still come out ahead in purchasing power.
NYC to Nashville: $120K
NYC COL: 187, Nashville COL: 97. $120K in NYC = ~$62K in Nashville. You could take a 40% pay cut and still improve your standard of living.
Dallas to Seattle: $90K
Dallas COL: 96, Seattle COL: 149. $90K in Dallas = ~$140K in Seattle. Moving to a more expensive city without a proportional raise means a real pay cut.
Formula & Methodology
Equivalent salary
- COL Index = Cost of living index (100 = US average)
Assumptions & limitations
- COL indices are composites including housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare.
- Housing costs dominate the index and may vary more than other categories.
- Tax differences (state income tax, property tax) are not included but can significantly impact real income.
- Individual lifestyle choices can make actual costs differ significantly from the index.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are these comparisons?
These use composite cost-of-living indices. Actual costs depend on your lifestyle, housing choices, and spending patterns. Use as a starting point, not a definitive answer.
Does this account for taxes?
No — state income tax differences can be significant. Texas and Florida have no state income tax, while California and New York take 9–12%. Factor this into your decision.
What about quality of life differences?
COL indices measure costs, not quality of life. A cheaper city may have worse schools, fewer jobs, less culture, or worse weather. Consider these factors alongside the numbers.
Should I always move to a cheaper city?
Not necessarily. Higher-cost cities often offer higher salaries, better career opportunities, and more amenities. The key is whether the salary premium exceeds the cost premium — and whether you value what the expensive city offers.