What Is the Cost of Living Comparison Calculator?
This calculator estimates the salary you would need in a new city to maintain the same standard of living you have today. It works with cost-of-living indices — relative numbers that express how expensive one location is compared to another. By comparing your origin city's index to your destination city's index, the tool scales your current salary up or down accordingly. It is jurisdiction-neutral: it works for any two cities worldwide as long as you use index values measured on the same scale.
How to Use It
Enter your current annual salary, the cost-of-living index of your current (origin) city, and the index of the city you are considering (destination). Index values often use a baseline of 100, but any consistent scale works. The calculator returns the equivalent salary, the dollar difference, and the percentage change.
The Formula Explained
The core equation is simple: $$\text{Equivalent Salary} = \text{Current Salary} \times \frac{\text{Destination Index}}{\text{Origin Index}}$$ If the destination is more expensive, the ratio is greater than 1 and you need a higher salary. If it is cheaper, the ratio is below 1 and you can live comfortably on less. The percent change shows the raise (or pay cut) required relative to your current pay.
Worked Example
Suppose you earn $60,000 in a city with a cost index of 100 and want to move to a city with an index of 120. Equivalent salary $$= 60{,}000 \times \left(120 \div 100\right) = 60{,}000 \times 1.2 = \$72{,}000$$ The difference is $12,000 and the percent change is +20%, meaning you'd need a 20% raise to break even.
FAQ
Where do I find cost-of-living indices? Sites like Numbeo, Expatistan, and the C2ER index publish city indices. Always compare two cities from the same source and scale.
Does this include taxes? No. It compares general living costs only. Income tax rates can vary significantly between locations, so check those separately.
Is the result a guaranteed salary? No — it is an estimate of equivalent purchasing power, useful for negotiations and planning, not a market salary figure.
