Cost of Living Comparison
↻ Updated 2026Thinking about a move? Compare two US cities side by side to see the salary you'd need to keep the same standard of living. Pick where you are now and where you're headed — the tool does the purchasing-power math for you.
How a cost-of-living comparison works
Each metro carries a BEA Regional Price Parity — the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's official measure of how local price levels compare with the national average of 100. To keep the same purchasing power after a move, your salary has to scale by the ratio of the two parities: going from a metro at 98 to one at 116 means you need roughly 18% more pay just to break even. The reverse is the happier case — moving somewhere cheaper means your existing salary buys more. Watch the category breakdown rather than the headline alone: housing parity ranges from the low 70s to over 200 across these metros, while goods and services stay close to 100, so housing is where a move is really won or lost. Remember this compares living costs only; a full picture also weighs local salary levels and state income tax, which is where the two-state paycheck comparison comes in.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare the cost of living between two cities?
Enter your current salary and pick both cities. The tool uses each metro's BEA Regional Price Parity (US average = 100) — the official measure of local price levels — to work out the salary you'd need in the second city to maintain the same purchasing power. Most of the swing is housing.
What salary do I need to keep the same lifestyle after moving?
Multiply your salary by the ratio of the two cost-of-living indices. Moving somewhere 30% more expensive means you need roughly 30% more salary to break even. This tool does that math for you and shows the exact equivalent figure.
Does a lower cost of living mean I'll be better off?
Often, but not always. A cheaper city stretches your salary further, but local salaries may also be lower, and state income tax can differ. Check the two-state paycheck comparison alongside this to see the full take-home-plus-cost picture.
What does a cost-of-living index of 150 mean?
An index of 100 is the US average. A metro at 116 has an overall price level about 16% above the national average; one at 90 is about 10% below. These are BEA Regional Price Parities — measured government figures — though the all-items number blends housing with goods and services, which is why the category breakdown matters: housing swings far more than the headline does.
- ·U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by metro — All-items and category price levels vs the US average, 2024
RealMoneyIQ provides free educational calculators, not financial, tax, investment or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you enter and publicly published rates; your actual outcome will differ. Always confirm decisions with a licensed professional who knows your full situation.