Cost of Living Calculator
Compare real purchasing power between states. Raw salary comparisons are misleading \u2014 this tool combines tax differences and cost of living to show the full picture.
All inputs adjust the result in real time. No data leaves your browser.
Cost of living indices measure how expensive it is to live in a given area relative to the national average (100). A state with a COL index of 142 (like California) means goods and services cost 42% more than the national average, while a state at 88 means things cost 12% less.
Comparing salaries between states without adjusting for both taxes and cost of living is misleading. An $85,000 salary in California and Texas looks the same on paper, but after accounting for state income tax differences and the dramatic cost of living gap, your real purchasing power can differ by thousands of dollars.
Purchasing power is calculated by dividing your after-tax income by the cost of living index. This gives you an apples-to-apples comparison of what your money can actually buy in each location. The ‘salary equivalent’ shows what you’d need to earn in the target state to maintain the same standard of living.
The 5-year projection shows cumulative savings from a move, but keep in mind that cost of living indices are averages — your actual costs depend on housing choices, commute, and lifestyle. Use this as a starting point, not the final word.