Compare Cost of Living
Cost of Living Calculator
Compare the cost of living between any two U.S. cities. See how far your salary goes, compare housing costs, and make informed relocation decisions.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your current salary — What you earn now in your current city.
- Select your current state, then city — Cities load dynamically based on the selected state.
- Select your target state, then city — Real-time cost indices appear on selection.
- Click Calculate — See your salary equivalent and detailed cost breakdown.
What Is Cost of Living?
Cost of living measures how much money you need to maintain a certain standard of living in a specific location. It includes housing, food, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other daily expenses.
The biggest factor is usually housing, which can vary by 300%+ between cities. A $2,000/month apartment in Manhattan might cost $800/month in Houston or $600/month in Memphis. This single difference can outweigh everything else combined.
Major Cost of Living Factors
- Housing (30-50% of budget): Rent/mortgage, property tax, insurance
- Transportation (10-15%): Car payment, gas, insurance, public transit
- Food (10-15%): Groceries and dining out
- Healthcare (5-10%): Insurance premiums, out-of-pocket costs
- Taxes (variable): State income tax, property tax, sales tax
- Utilities (5-8%): Electricity, water, internet
Highest vs Lowest Cost of Living Cities
Most Expensive U.S. Cities (2025)
- New York, NY — Index: 100.0 (Numbeo baseline, highest in U.S.)
- Honolulu, HI — Index: 101.8
- San Francisco, CA — Index: 94.9
- Seattle, WA — Index: 89.0
- Washington, DC — Index: 88.9
Most Affordable U.S. Cities (2025)
- Wichita, KS — Index: 64.6
- Cleveland, OH — Index: ~64
- Rochester, NY — Index: 64.3
- Birmingham, AL — Index: 67.1
- Oklahoma City, OK — Index: 68.2
Data Sources & Methodology
Our cost of living indices are sourced from two authoritative databases:
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index (2025) — The world's largest cost of living database, with 100+ U.S. cities indexed relative to New York City (=100). Based on crowdsourced price data with 500+ contributors per major city. Categories: overall cost, rent, groceries, restaurant prices.
- C2ER/MERIC Cost of Living Index (2025 Annual Average) — The Council for Community and Economic Research publishes quarterly indices covering 245+ U.S. urban areas. Categories: composite, grocery, housing, utilities, transportation, health, miscellaneous. National average = 100.
Our city-level data uses Numbeo indices (NYC=100 baseline). State-level data is cross-referenced with MERIC annual averages. Housing-specific comparisons use Numbeo Rent Index.
⚠️ Note: These indices reflect average costs. Your actual expenses depend on lifestyle, family size, housing choice, and spending habits. Use this as a starting point and research specific costs for your situation.
Don't Forget State Taxes
Cost of living comparisons often overlook income tax differences. Moving from a high-tax state to a no-tax state can be worth $10,000+ per year:
- No state income tax: TX, FL, WA, NV, WY, AK, SD, NH (dividends only), TN (dividends only)
- Highest state income tax: CA (13.3%), HI (11%), NY (10.9%), NJ (10.75%)
A $100,000 salary in California costs ~$9,300 in state tax alone. The same salary in Texas or Florida costs $0. That's a 9.3% effective "raise" just by moving.