Cost of Living Salary Calculator
Compare your salary across US cities adjusted for cost of living
To maintain your standard of living, you need:
How the Calculator Works
Enter Your Current Salary
Tell us where you live now and your current annual salary
Select Target City
Choose the city you're considering moving to
Get Your Equivalent Salary
See the salary needed to maintain your standard of living
Top Value Cities
View all 56 cities →Cities with the best combination of high salaries and low living costs.
Value Score (0-100): Combines salary, cost of living, and housing costs. 70+ = great value, 40-69 = moderate, <40 = expensive.
| City | CoL Index | Housing Index | H-1B Avg Salary | Value Score | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 92.0 | 61.2 | $136,945 | 100 | |
| Detroit, MI | 89.4 | 55.2 | $115,630 | 96 | |
| Buffalo, NY | 92.5 | 68.5 | $137,803 | 88 | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 88.2 | 72.1 | $116,094 | 71 | |
| Memphis, TN | 87.2 | 64.8 | $102,218 | 71 | |
| St. Louis, MO | 91.8 | 68.5 | $111,501 | 69 | |
| Richmond, VA | 99.8 | 96.5 | $167,312 | 67 | |
| Kansas City, MO | 96.1 | 82.3 | $137,586 | 67 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 93.1 | 72.5 | $111,436 | 63 | |
| Cincinnati, OH | 93.5 | 74.1 | $111,417 | 61 |
Popular City Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cost of living index? +
A cost of living index measures the relative cost of consumer goods and services in different locations. Our index uses 100 as the national average, so a city with an index of 150 is 50% more expensive than average, while a city with an index of 80 is 20% less expensive.
How is the equivalent salary calculated? +
The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the target city's cost of living index to your current city's index. For example, if you earn $100,000 in Austin (index 103) and move to San Francisco (index 180), you'd need approximately $175,000 to maintain the same standard of living.
Where does the cost of living data come from? +
Our cost of living indices are derived from the C2ER (Council for Community and Economic Research) Cost of Living Index and BLS Regional Price Parities. These are updated annually based on pricing surveys of goods and services across US metropolitan areas.
What factors are included in the cost of living? +
The overall cost of living index includes housing (which is typically the largest component), groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare costs. Housing costs tend to vary the most between cities, which is why we also show a separate housing index.