How to use the Cost of Living Comparison Calculator
Enter your current salary. Then fill in your typical monthly costs in your current city and your best estimate for the new city: housing, groceries, transportation, utilities, healthcare and everything else. Rent listings, utility company averages and your own bills are good sources. The green box shows the salary you’d need, and the table shows where the difference comes from.
Worked example
$75,000 salary, $4,000 a month now, $5,000 a month in the new city
| Cost ratio: $5,000 ÷ $4,000 | 1.25× |
| Salary needed: $75,000 × 1.25 | $93,750 |
| Housing difference | +$600 a month |
| Everything else | +$300 a month |
Most of the gap here is housing, so a cheaper neighbourhood in the new city would change the answer the most.
Assumptions and limits
- Uses only the costs you enter, not a published cost-of-living index.
- It is a gross-salary rule of thumb: different state or local income taxes change the take-home pay you need.
- Savings and debt payments aren’t scaled; add them under ‘everything else’ if you want them included.
Formula
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare cost of living between two cities?
List what you spend each month by category, estimate the same for the new city using rent listings and local prices, and compare the totals. Housing usually makes the biggest difference.
Why not use a cost-of-living index?
Indexes average many households and may not match how you live. Your own numbers give a more personal answer, and you can see exactly where the difference comes from.
Cite or link to this calculator
Using this calculator in an article, report or assignment? You can cite it like this:
CalcKite. (2026). Cost of Living Comparison Calculator [Online calculator]. https://www.calckite.com/cost-of-living-comparison-calculator/
Or add a link to it from your website or blog:
<a href="https://www.calckite.com/cost-of-living-comparison-calculator/">Cost of Living Comparison Calculator</a> by CalcKiteAdd this calculator to your website — free
Bloggers, schools, agents and businesses can embed the Cost of Living Comparison Calculator on their own pages. Copy the code below and paste it into your page's HTML. The calculator resizes itself to fit, and works on phones.
Free to use — please keep the credit link under the calculator. Browse all free calculators for your website.
Results are estimates for information only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Tax rules, interest rates and fees change, so confirm important numbers with your bank, employer or a qualified adviser. Read our disclaimer.