Salary Comparison Calculator
Compare what your salary is worth in different cities using cost-of-living indices.
A $100K salary means very different things depending on where you live. In New York City, it feels like $53K after adjusting for the cost of living. In Raleigh, it feels like $105K. This calculator uses cost-of-living indices to translate your salary between cities, helping you evaluate job offers, plan relocations, or simply understand your real purchasing power.
A $100,000 salary in National Avg is equivalent to $187,000 in New York, NY. You'd need 87,000 more to maintain the same lifestyle.
Salary comparison
In National Avg
$100,000
Equivalent in New York, NY
$187,000
Difference
+$87,000
Change
+87.0%
How to use this calculator
Current salary — Your annual salary in the origin city. This is the baseline for comparison.
Current city — The city where you currently earn this salary. Each city has a cost-of-living index (100 = national average).
Target city — The city you're comparing against. The calculator shows what salary you'd need to maintain the same standard of living.
Real-world examples
NYC to Nashville: $120K
NYC COL: 187, Nashville COL: 97. $120K in NYC = ~$62K in Nashville. You could take a 48% pay cut and maintain the same lifestyle — or keep your salary and dramatically upgrade your standard of living.
Raleigh to SF: $90K
Raleigh COL: 95, SF COL: 179. $90K in Raleigh = ~$170K in SF. Moving to SF without a proportional raise means a significant real pay cut.
Dallas to Austin: $85K
Dallas COL: 96, Austin COL: 103. $85K in Dallas = ~$91K in Austin. A small difference — these cities have similar costs, so salary comparisons are more straightforward.
Formula & Methodology
Equivalent salary
- COL = Cost-of-living index (100 = US average)
Assumptions & limitations
- COL indices are composites of housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare.
- Housing is typically the largest factor and may vary more than other categories.
- State and local tax differences are not included — they can add 0–13% to your effective tax rate.
- Individual lifestyle and spending patterns can make actual costs differ from the index.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the cost-of-living indices come from?
Based on C2ER (Council for Community and Economic Research) data, which tracks prices across 300+ urban areas. 100 = national average.
Should I always move to a cheaper city?
Not necessarily. Cheaper cities may have lower salaries, fewer opportunities, or lifestyle trade-offs. Use this as one input, not the only factor.
What about state income taxes?
They can make a big difference. California (13.3%) vs Texas (0%) means a $100K salary has ~$13K more in take-home pay in Texas. Factor this into your comparison.
How do I negotiate a salary for a different city?
Use this calculator to determine the equivalent salary, then add 5–10% for the risk and disruption of moving. Employers in high-COL cities often expect to pay above the index adjustment.