Cost of Living Comparison Calculator — United States 2026
Thinking of moving? Compare what your salary is really worth.
Compare the real cost of living between major US cities. Estimate equivalent salary, rent pressure, commuting costs, and moving trade-offs across New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, and Denver.
United States Cost of Living Notes
US city comparisons usually swing on housing, taxes, and transport. New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, and Denver can require a much higher equivalent salary than Houston, Atlanta, or Chicago even when headline pay looks strong.
This version is tailored to US relocation decisions, where state taxes, health-insurance contributions, and car dependence can change the salary you need more than grocery prices do.
US setup: this cost of living comparison is tuned for dollar-denominated scenarios, American payroll and tax references, state-by-state cost differences, and the finance terms people see in lender, employer, or IRS-facing documents.
The page keeps US language in place where it is relevant, including IRS, federal withholding, FICA, 401(k), sales tax, miles, APR, down payment, paycheck, state tax, and USD totals.
Treat the answer as a United States estimate; before acting, compare it with provider disclosures, state rules, federal guidance, lender underwriting, payroll settings, or advice from a qualified professional.
Indicative estimates based on composite cost indices. Housing varies significantly by suburb. Verify with local data before relocating.
Select the question that best matches your situation.
The equivalent salary is the income you would need in City B to maintain exactly the same lifestyle as in City A. It is calculated using a composite cost index for each city based on housing, food, transport, and utilities.
Housing is the biggest single factor — typically 30–35% of spending. A 20% housing cost difference between cities has a 6–10% impact on total living costs. Food and transport differences between major US cities are typically 5–10%.
The index uses median/average figures. Your actual cost depends heavily on the suburb, your lifestyle, whether you rent or own, household size, and commute distance. Use Standard mode for a component breakdown and adjust manually.
If you are relocating for a new role, use the equivalent salary as your benchmark. Moving from New York to Philadelphia and accepting $75k for a $100k New York role preserves purchasing power — but check the employer is not applying a city discount on top of the lower cost base.
Housing is the dominant cost-of-living variable between US cities. The national housing shortage has compressed cost differences since 2021, but significant gaps remain.
New York median rents are 20–40% above Chicago, Miami, and Denver. This gap drives most of the overall cost-of-living difference. Sun Belt and Midwest cities are 20–30% cheaper than New York with growing job markets.
This calculator uses rental cost data. If you are buying, the index shifts further: New York and San Francisco median home prices are 40–60% above Chicago and Philadelphia. Austin and Denver have seen strong price growth since 2022 — use current data from Zillow or Realtor.com.
San Francisco and San Jose have housing costs rivaling New York, driven by tech demand and limited supply. The overall index is high but the composition is different — very high housing, with transport eased by lower fuel prices than the Northeast.
The cost index is a composite number (New York = 100) that represents the average relative cost of living in each city. It combines housing, food, transport, and utilities using spending weights from The BLS household expenditure data.
Select “Custom city” in the dropdown and enter your own index. Use Numbeo (numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=the United States) for individual city data, or The BLS Consumer Price Index for a government source. Set New York = 100 as the reference.
A single index number cannot capture lifestyle differences. Washington DC has a high index (89) partly because of federal sector wages pushing up service costs — but also has excellent public infrastructure. The index is a starting point, not a complete picture.
The equivalent salary calculation assumes you spend the same proportion of income on each category in both cities. In practice, you might choose a cheaper suburb or reduce housing costs by house-sharing — which would shift your personal effective index lower than the city average.
The cost of living comparison is one input into a relocation decision. Salary equivalence matters, but so do career trajectory, family, lifestyle preferences, and one-off moving costs.
Long-distance movers typically cost $3,000–$8,000 for a 2-bedroom household. Factor in a security deposit (1–2 months rent), overlapping rent or temporary housing, and time off work. Budget at least $10,000–$15,000 for a full cross-country move before you start saving.
Employers in lower-cost cities may try to pay below your equivalent salary on the basis that “it’s cheaper there.” Know your equivalent: if you earn $120k in New York and move to Chicago, $96k+ preserves your living standard. Below that you are taking a real pay cut.
Career opportunity, proximity to family and friends, lifestyle (beaches, weather, nightlife), school quality, and healthcare access are real but unquantifiable. The financial equivalence is the floor — everything else is your decision.
Methodology — equivalent salary, cost index, and spending weights
The equivalent salary formula
The equivalent salary is calculated as: Equivalent = Income × (City B index ÷ City A index). If you earn $100,000 in New York (index 100) and want to compare to Chicago (index 80), the equivalent is $100,000 × 80/100 = $80,000.
This means you only need to earn $80,000 in Chicago to maintain the same purchasing power — because everything costs 20% less on average.
Spending weights used
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Housing (rent/mortgage) | 32% of spending |
| Food & groceries | 18% |
| Transport | 16% |
| Utilities | 8% |
| Other (healthcare, entertainment, clothing) | 26% |
Weights are based on The BLS Household Expenditure Survey 2015–16 (most recent available), adjusted for post-COVID housing cost changes. Switch to Detailed mode to see estimated annual spending by category.
Cost index for every major US city — relative to New York = 100
| City | Overall index |
|---|---|
| New York | 100 — reference city |
| San Francisco | 96 — 4% cheaper than New York; high housing |
| San Jose | 94 — 6% cheaper; tech demand |
| Boston | 90 — 10% cheaper than New York |
| Washington DC | 89 — 11% cheaper; federal job market |
| Los Angeles | 88 — 12% cheaper; high transport costs |
| Seattle | 87 — 13% cheaper; no state income tax |
| San Diego | 84 — 16% cheaper; coastal premium |
| Miami | 82 — 18% cheaper; no state income tax |
| Chicago | 80 — 20% cheaper than New York |
| Denver | 79 — 21% cheaper; fast-growing |
| Philadelphia | 75 — 25% cheaper; most affordable Northeast hub |
Note: These are composite averages. Costs vary significantly by neighborhood and lifestyle. Housing has risen faster than other categories since 2022 — particularly in Austin and Denver. Use Numbeo or The BLS CPI for up-to-date metro-level data.
Median rents and house prices across US cities 2026
Median weekly rents (all dwellings, 2026 est.)
| City | Est. weekly rent |
|---|---|
| New York | ~$650–750/wk |
| San Francisco | ~$620–700/wk |
| San Jose | ~$600–680/wk |
| Boston | ~$580–640/wk |
| Washington DC | ~$560–620/wk |
| Los Angeles | ~$550–610/wk |
| Seattle | ~$540–600/wk |
| Miami / San Diego | ~$500–560/wk |
| Chicago / Denver | ~$470–520/wk |
| Philadelphia | ~$450–500/wk |
Rents have increased significantly across all cities since 2022. Austin and Denver have seen the fastest rent growth. Always check current listings on Zillow or Realtor.com for the specific neighborhood you are considering.
How to use this comparison for salary negotiation and relocation planning
Salary negotiation when relocating
When moving from a higher-cost city to a lower-cost city, some employers offer a reduced salary on the basis of lower living costs. Know your number: the equivalent salary from this calculator is your minimum floor. Accepting less than the equivalent means your standard of living drops — you are not just paying for lower costs, you are taking a genuine real-terms pay cut.
When moving to a higher-cost city
Moving from Chicago to New York requires approximately a 25% salary increase to maintain the same lifestyle. If the new employer offers less than the equivalent, you need to factor in the lifestyle trade-off explicitly — and model how long it would take to recover the real-terms gap through career progression.
Adjusting for your personal spending pattern
If you spend more than average on housing (e.g. living alone, not sharing), the housing component matters more. If you have a car loan but use public transport in a new city, transport costs drop. Use Standard mode to see the component breakdown and adjust the index manually for your own lifestyle.
What to check before relocating
- Current rental listings in the suburbs you are considering (not city averages)
- Commute cost and time from affordable suburbs to your workplace
- Whether your industry pays a city-specific market rate (check Seek salary data)
- One-off moving costs: movers, security deposit, overlapping rent, time off work
- Any state-based tax differences (e.g. Transfer tax, payroll tax if self-employed)
❓ Frequently asked Frequently asked questions
How much more expensive is New York than Chicago?
New York is approximately 20–25% more expensive than Chicago overall, primarily driven by housing. New York median rents are around 30–40% higher. Food and transport are comparable. A $100,000 Chicago salary equates to roughly $125,000 in New York purchasing power.
Is Philadelphia cheaper than New York?
Yes — Philadelphia is approximately 25% cheaper than New York on a composite basis. Housing is the biggest difference. A $100,000 New York salary equates to approximately $75,000 in Philadelphia. However, Philadelphia rents have risen significantly since 2021 and the gap is narrowing.
Is Los Angeles expensive compared to other West Coast cities?
Los Angeles is comparable to Seattle overall (index ~88 vs 87) but has higher transport costs due to car dependency and longer commutes. Housing is slightly above Seattle in many neighborhoods. Some sectors (entertainment, tech) pay significant market premiums on top of the base salary.
What is the cheapest major US city to live in?
Among major hubs, Philadelphia is one of the most affordable, with a cost index approximately 25% below New York. It has relatively affordable housing, solid transit, and similar food prices to other large cities. Chicago and Denver are comparable. All have seen strong price growth since 2020.
How do I use this for a city not in the list?
Select “Custom city” in the dropdown and enter your own index number. Set New York = 100 as the reference. For data, use Numbeo (numbeo.com), The BLS Consumer Price Index, or CBRE’s annual cost-of-living reports. Smaller metros such as Columbus, Kansas City, San Antonio, and Indianapolis typically have indexes in the 60–70 range.
Where these figures come from
Cost-of-living and inflation figures on this page are drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI), the the Federal Reserve (inflation target and monetary policy), and The Department of Labor Commission (minimum wage).
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) — BLS — Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- Household expenditure & income — BLS — Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Federal Reserve inflation target — Federal Reserve — Inflation & prices.
- National minimum wage — US Dept of Labor — Minimum wage.
- Fuel & energy price data — US EIA — Gasoline & energy prices.
Last checked: April 2026. Rates and thresholds are reviewed against the source of record each November, when annual adjustments for the following tax year are published.