Equivalent salary example
Input
Current salary $80,000 · Current index 100 · New index 140Output
$112,000 equivalent salary80,000 × (140 ÷ 100) = 112,000. The new city is ~40% more expensive by index.
Cost of living compares purchasing power between locations using cost indices. Use this calculator to estimate the equivalent salary you’d need after moving between two cities.
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A cost of living calculator compares two locations using cost indices to estimate the equivalent salary needed to maintain similar purchasing power after moving.
A cost of living calculator compares two locations using cost indices to estimate the equivalent salary needed to maintain similar purchasing power after moving.
A cost of living calculator compares two locations using cost indices to estimate equivalent purchasing power.
Equivalent salary scales by destination index divided by origin index for the same purchasing power.
Formula
Equivalent salary = Current salary × (New index ÷ Current index)Select your current city and target city, or enter their cost-of-living indices from a source you trust.
Enter your current annual salary (gross). This is the baseline for purchasing power.
The calculator returns the estimated salary you’d need in the new location for similar purchasing power.
Adjust for taxes, benefits, rent expectations, commuting, and your real lifestyle.
Input
Current salary $80,000 · Current index 100 · New index 140Output
$112,000 equivalent salary80,000 × (140 ÷ 100) = 112,000. The new city is ~40% more expensive by index.
Input
Current salary $100,000 · Current index 150 · New index 105Output
$70,000 equivalent salary100,000 × (105 ÷ 150) = 70,000. You could earn less and keep similar purchasing power.
Common real-world scenarios where this tool saves time.
Job seekers
Compare offers across locations and avoid accepting a nominally higher salary that buys less in practice.
Remote workers
Use index ratios as a rational starting point for compensation conversations.
Families
Estimate how much income is needed to maintain lifestyle after accounting for housing, groceries, and transportation differences.
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A cost of living comparison shows how much more or less expensive one location is relative to another using cost indices that approximate typical expenses like housing, groceries, transport, and utilities.
Equivalent salary = current salary × (new index ÷ current index). If your city index is 100 and the new city is 140, multiply salary by 1.4.
Housing is usually the biggest driver, followed by taxes, childcare, transportation, and healthcare. Two cities with the same overall index can still differ dramatically in category composition.
Yes. Use the output as a baseline, then adjust for the role, your market value, taxes, benefits, and expected housing costs in the neighborhood you’ll actually live in.
No — it’s an estimate. Indices are averages and can’t model your exact lifestyle. Use it to plan and compare, then validate with local rent prices and tax calculators.
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Reviewed by EverydayTools Editorial Team on 2026-05-03.
Enter your income to calculate equivalent salary.
Index: 100
Index: 92
Enter your income and select both cities to compare living costs.
Example: $60,000 in New York vs London.