United States · 2026 planning tool

Cost-of-Living Salary Comparison Calculator

Compare salary purchasing power using BEA-style regional price indexes.

Your inputs

Build your estimate

Comparison methodCurrent salary $Current-area RPP or indexDestination-area RPP or indexDestination salary offer $

Custom city budgets (used in monthly budget mode)

Enter quotes or your own expected monthly costs for each city. These are personal inputs, not a live city-price feed. Effective tax rates include all expected income/payroll taxes.

Current cityDestination cityCurrent effective tax (%) Destination effective tax (%) Current Housing /month $Destination Housing /month $Current Transport /month $Destination Transport /month $Current Healthcare /month $Destination Healthcare /month $Current Childcare /month $Destination Childcare /month $Current Food /month $Destination Food /month $Current Utilities /month $Destination Utilities /month $Current Other /month $Destination Other /month $

Use comparable indexes from the same source and year. A BEA RPP of 110 means average prices are 10% above the national level.

Official sources and scope

Rules and source methodology reviewed September 11, 2026.

BEA Regional Price Parities · BEA methodology

Compare regional purchasing power

Equivalent destination salary equals current salary multiplied by the destination index and divided by the current-area index. BEA Regional Price Parities measure geographic price levels for the same period relative to the national level.

Use indexes from the same publisher and year. This broad comparison does not replace a household budget for housing, taxes, benefits, childcare and commuting.

Official source

BEA Regional Price Parities