What does your salary buy in the new city?
On the defaults — a $75,000.00 salary at cost index 100, moving to a city at index 120 — the equivalent salary is $90,000.00 ($75,000.00 × 120 ÷ 100), which is +$15,000.00 (+20.00%) against the current salary. Monthly, that is $7,500.00 against $6,250.00 now — $1,250.00 more a month for the same life. A job offer is not a number, it is a life in a place, and the index is what turns one into the other.
Five things about the model are worth stating plainly. First, the equivalent salary is the current salary times the new index divided by the current index — $75,000.00 × 120 ÷ 100 = $90,000.00. Second, the difference is the equivalent minus the current salary — $90,000.00 − $75,000.00 = +$15,000.00. Third, the percent change is the difference over the current salary — +$15,000.00 ÷ $75,000.00 × 100 = +20.00%. Fourth, the monthly figures are the annual figures ÷ 12 — $90,000.00 ÷ 12 = $7,500.00 against $75,000.00 ÷ 12 = $6,250.00. And fifth, the index is the lever: at index 85 the equivalent is $63,750.00 — the same salary, $11,250.00 less; all listed in Accuracy & limitations.
The worked example, line by line
Setup: $75,000.00 salary, current index 100, new index 120.
Line 1 — the equivalent salary. The equivalent salary is $75,000.00 × 120 ÷ 100 = $90,000.00.
Line 2 — the difference. The difference is $90,000.00 − $75,000.00 = +$15,000.00.
Line 3 — the percent change. The percent change is +$15,000.00 ÷ $75,000.00 × 100 = +20.00%.
Line 4 — the monthly figures. The monthly equivalent is $90,000.00 ÷ 12 = $7,500.00 against $75,000.00 ÷ 12 = $6,250.00 — $1,250.00 more a month.
Line 5 — the flip. At index 85 the equivalent is $75,000.00 × 85 ÷ 100 = $63,750.00, so the difference is −$11,250.00 (−15.00%) and the same salary buys less.
Table 1 — Approximate 2026 cost indices for eight major US cities
| City | Cost index | What $75,000 becomes |
|---|
| New York, NY | 168 | $126,000.00 |
| San Francisco, CA | 169 | $126,750.00 |
| Honolulu, HI | 165 | $123,750.00 |
| Boston, MA | 148 | $111,000.00 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 147 | $110,250.00 |
| Seattle, WA | 145 | $108,750.00 |
| Chicago, IL | 113 | $84,750.00 |
| Dallas, TX | 100 | $75,000.00 |
The indices are approximate — for illustration; enter your own city’s index for an exact comparison. The US average is 100, so a city at 168 costs about 68% more than the average, and a city at 100 costs the average. Housing is the biggest driver: New York and San Francisco sit at the top because of rent, while Dallas sits at the average. The table is a starting point, not a quote — look up the index for the exact city and the exact year before you sign anything.
Every branch, checked
new index 85: Equivalent salary $63,750.00 (−$11,250.00, −15.00%) — monthly $5,312.50 vs $6,250.00 now — At index 85 the same salary buys $63,750.00 of life — a cheaper city pays you less in nominal terms and more in real terms.
salary $100,000: Equivalent salary $120,000.00 (+$20,000.00, +20.00%) — monthly $10,000.00 vs $8,333.33 now — At a $100,000.00 salary the equivalent is $120,000.00 — the raise scales with the salary.
current 130, new 100: Equivalent salary $57,692.31 (−$17,307.69, −23.08%) — monthly $4,807.69 vs $6,250.00 now — Moving from 130 to 100, the equivalent is $57,692.31 — the cheaper city lets you take a pay cut and keep the same life.
new index 168: Equivalent salary $126,000.00 (+$51,000.00, +68.00%) — monthly $10,500.00 vs $6,250.00 now — At index 168 — New York in the table — the equivalent is $126,000.00, or $51,000.00 more.
salary $60,000, new 110: Equivalent salary $66,000.00 (+$6,000.00, +10.00%) — monthly $5,500.00 vs $5,000.00 now — At a $60,000.00 salary and index 110 the equivalent is $66,000.00 — the same 10% lift, on a smaller base.
current 90, new 135: Equivalent salary $112,500.00 (+$37,500.00, +50.00%) — monthly $9,375.00 vs $6,250.00 now — Moving from 90 to 135, the equivalent is $112,500.00 — a 50% jump in the index is a 50% jump in the salary.
new index 100: Equivalent salary $75,000.00 ($0.00, 0.00%) — monthly $6,250.00 vs $6,250.00 now — At index 100 the equivalent is $75,000.00 — the same city, the same money, no change.
The reverses, worked backwards
smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $90,000: The smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $90,000 is 120.00 (exact 120.0000). At 120.00 the figures are Equivalent salary $90,000.00 (+$15,000.00, +20.00%) — monthly $7,500.00 vs $6,250.00 now. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $89,992.50 (+$14,992.50, +19.99%) — monthly $7,499.38 vs $6,250.00 now; at the upper neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $90,007.50 (+$15,007.50, +20.01%) — monthly $7,500.63 vs $6,250.00 now.
smallest salary for the equivalent to reach $100,000 at 100 → 120: The smallest salary for the equivalent to reach $100,000 at 100 → 120 is $83,333.33 (exact 83333.3333). At $83,333.33 the figures are Equivalent salary $100,000.00 (+$16,666.67, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.44 now. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $99,999.98 (+$16,666.66, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.44 now; at the upper neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $100,000.01 (+$16,666.67, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.45 now.
new index for the equivalent to be $60,000: The new index for the equivalent to be $60,000 is 80.00 (exact 80.0000). At 80.00 the figures are Equivalent salary $60,000.00 (−$15,000.00, −20.00%) — monthly $5,000.00 vs $6,250.00 now. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $59,992.50 (−$15,007.50, −20.01%) — monthly $4,999.38 vs $6,250.00 now; at the upper neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $60,007.50 (−$14,992.50, −19.99%) — monthly $5,000.63 vs $6,250.00 now.
smallest current index for the equivalent to be at most $80,000 with the new index at 120: The smallest current index for the equivalent to be at most $80,000 with the new index at 120 is 112.50 (exact 112.5000). At 112.50 the figures are Equivalent salary $80,000.00 (+$5,000.00, +6.67%) — monthly $6,666.67 vs $6,250.00 now. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $80,007.11 (+$5,007.11, +6.68%) — monthly $6,667.26 vs $6,250.00 now; at the upper neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $79,992.89 (+$4,992.89, +6.66%) — monthly $6,666.07 vs $6,250.00 now.
smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $80,000: The smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $80,000 is 106.67 (exact 106.6667). At 106.67 the figures are Equivalent salary $80,002.50 (+$5,002.50, +6.67%) — monthly $6,666.88 vs $6,250.00 now. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $79,995.00 (+$4,995.00, +6.66%) — monthly $6,666.25 vs $6,250.00 now; at the upper neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $80,010.00 (+$5,010.00, +6.68%) — monthly $6,667.50 vs $6,250.00 now.
smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $100,000: The smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $100,000 is 133.34 (exact 133.3333). At 133.34 the figures are Equivalent salary $100,005.00 (+$25,005.00, +33.34%) — monthly $8,333.75 vs $6,250.00 now. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $99,997.50 (+$24,997.50, +33.33%) — monthly $8,333.13 vs $6,250.00 now; at the upper neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $100,012.50 (+$25,012.50, +33.35%) — monthly $8,334.38 vs $6,250.00 now.
What the defaults assume
The defaults are Equivalent salary $90,000.00 (+$15,000.00, +20.00%) — monthly $7,500.00 vs $6,250.00 now. With new index 85, Equivalent salary $63,750.00 (−$11,250.00, −15.00%) — monthly $5,312.50 vs $6,250.00 now — At index 85 the same salary buys $63,750.00 of life — a cheaper city pays you less in nominal terms and more in real terms.. With salary $100,000, Equivalent salary $120,000.00 (+$20,000.00, +20.00%) — monthly $10,000.00 vs $8,333.33 now — At a $100,000.00 salary the equivalent is $120,000.00 — the raise scales with the salary.. With current 130, new 100, Equivalent salary $57,692.31 (−$17,307.69, −23.08%) — monthly $4,807.69 vs $6,250.00 now — Moving from 130 to 100, the equivalent is $57,692.31 — the cheaper city lets you take a pay cut and keep the same life.. With new index 168, Equivalent salary $126,000.00 (+$51,000.00, +68.00%) — monthly $10,500.00 vs $6,250.00 now — At index 168 — New York in the table — the equivalent is $126,000.00, or $51,000.00 more.. With salary $60,000, new 110, Equivalent salary $66,000.00 (+$6,000.00, +10.00%) — monthly $5,500.00 vs $5,000.00 now — At a $60,000.00 salary and index 110 the equivalent is $66,000.00 — the same 10% lift, on a smaller base.. With current 90, new 135, Equivalent salary $112,500.00 (+$37,500.00, +50.00%) — monthly $9,375.00 vs $6,250.00 now — Moving from 90 to 135, the equivalent is $112,500.00 — a 50% jump in the index is a 50% jump in the salary.. With new index 100, Equivalent salary $75,000.00 ($0.00, 0.00%) — monthly $6,250.00 vs $6,250.00 now — At index 100 the equivalent is $75,000.00 — the same city, the same money, no change.. With smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $90,000, 120.00 (exact 120.0000) — at 120.00 the figures are Equivalent salary $90,000.00 (+$15,000.00, +20.00%) — monthly $7,500.00 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $89,992.50 (+$14,992.50, +19.99%) — monthly $7,499.38 vs $6,250.00 now. With smallest salary for the equivalent to reach $100,000 at 100 → 120, $83,333.33 (exact 83333.3333) — at $83,333.33 the figures are Equivalent salary $100,000.00 (+$16,666.67, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.44 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $99,999.98 (+$16,666.66, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.44 now. With new index for the equivalent to be $60,000, 80.00 (exact 80.0000) — at 80.00 the figures are Equivalent salary $60,000.00 (−$15,000.00, −20.00%) — monthly $5,000.00 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $59,992.50 (−$15,007.50, −20.01%) — monthly $4,999.38 vs $6,250.00 now. With smallest current index for the equivalent to be at most $80,000 with the new index at 120, 112.50 (exact 112.5000) — at 112.50 the figures are Equivalent salary $80,000.00 (+$5,000.00, +6.67%) — monthly $6,666.67 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $80,007.11 (+$5,007.11, +6.68%) — monthly $6,667.26 vs $6,250.00 now. With smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $80,000, 106.67 (exact 106.6667) — at 106.67 the figures are Equivalent salary $80,002.50 (+$5,002.50, +6.67%) — monthly $6,666.88 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $79,995.00 (+$4,995.00, +6.66%) — monthly $6,666.25 vs $6,250.00 now. With smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $100,000, 133.34 (exact 133.3333) — at 133.34 the figures are Equivalent salary $100,005.00 (+$25,005.00, +33.34%) — monthly $8,333.75 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $99,997.50 (+$24,997.50, +33.33%) — monthly $8,333.13 vs $6,250.00 now. With a $0 salary, Equivalent salary $0.00 ($0.00, 0.00%) — monthly $0.00 vs $0.00 now — With no salary there is nothing to convert — the equivalent is $0.00.. With a current index of 0, Current-city cost index — enter a number greater than 0. — A current index of 0 is not a number the formula can divide by — the calculator asks for a number greater than 0.. With a new index of 0, Equivalent salary $0.00 (−$75,000.00, −100.00%) — monthly $0.00 vs $6,250.00 now — At index 0 the new city costs nothing, so the equivalent is $0.00 — a −100.00% change.. With a $1,000,000 salary with a new index of 200, Equivalent salary $2,000,000.00 (+$1,000,000.00, +100.00%) — monthly $166,666.67 vs $83,333.33 now — A $1,000,000.00 salary at index 200 is $2,000,000.00 — the formula scales without a ceiling.. With a current index of 200 with a new index of 50, Equivalent salary $18,750.00 (−$56,250.00, −75.00%) — monthly $1,562.50 vs $6,250.00 now — Moving from 200 to 50, the equivalent is $18,750.00 — a −75.00% change.. With a $45,000 salary with a new index of 105, Equivalent salary $47,250.00 (+$2,250.00, +5.00%) — monthly $3,937.50 vs $3,750.00 now — A $45,000.00 salary at index 105 is $47,250.00 — a $2,250.00 rise, or +5.00%.. With a new index of 99.99, Equivalent salary $74,992.50 (−$7.50, −0.01%) — monthly $6,249.38 vs $6,250.00 now — At index 99.99 the equivalent is $74,992.50 — a hair under the current salary..
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|
| Current salary | input | $75,000.00. |
| Current-city cost index | input | 100. |
| New-city cost index | input | 120. |
| Equivalent salary | salary × new index ÷ current index | $90,000.00. |
| Salary difference | equivalent − current salary | +$15,000.00. |
| Percent change | difference ÷ current salary × 100 | +20.00%. |
| Equivalent monthly | equivalent ÷ 12 | $7,500.00. |
| Current monthly | current salary ÷ 12 | $6,250.00. |
| smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $90,000 | exact 120.0000 | 120.00 → 120.00. |
| Below the smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $90,000 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $89,992.50 (+$14,992.50, +19.99%) — monthly $7,499.38 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| Above the smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $90,000 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $90,007.50 (+$15,007.50, +20.01%) — monthly $7,500.63 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| smallest salary for the equivalent to reach $100,000 at 100 → 120 | exact 83333.3333 | $83,333.33 → $83,333.33. |
| Below the smallest salary for the equivalent to reach $100,000 at 100 → 120 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $99,999.98 (+$16,666.66, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.44 now. |
| Above the smallest salary for the equivalent to reach $100,000 at 100 → 120 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $100,000.01 (+$16,666.67, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.45 now. |
| new index for the equivalent to be $60,000 | exact 80.0000 | 80.00 → 80.00. |
| Below the new index for the equivalent to be $60,000 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $59,992.50 (−$15,007.50, −20.01%) — monthly $4,999.38 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| Above the new index for the equivalent to be $60,000 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $60,007.50 (−$14,992.50, −19.99%) — monthly $5,000.63 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| smallest current index for the equivalent to be at most $80,000 with the new index at 120 | exact 112.5000 | 112.50 → 112.50. |
| Below the smallest current index for the equivalent to be at most $80,000 with the new index at 120 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $80,007.11 (+$5,007.11, +6.68%) — monthly $6,667.26 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| Above the smallest current index for the equivalent to be at most $80,000 with the new index at 120 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $79,992.89 (+$4,992.89, +6.66%) — monthly $6,666.07 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $80,000 | exact 106.6667 | 106.67 → 106.67. |
| Below the smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $80,000 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $79,995.00 (+$4,995.00, +6.66%) — monthly $6,666.25 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| Above the smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $80,000 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $80,010.00 (+$5,010.00, +6.68%) — monthly $6,667.50 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $100,000 | exact 133.3333 | 133.34 → 133.34. |
| Below the smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $100,000 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $99,997.50 (+$24,997.50, +33.33%) — monthly $8,333.13 vs $6,250.00 now. |
| Above the smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $100,000 star | neighbor | Equivalent salary $100,012.50 (+$25,012.50, +33.35%) — monthly $8,334.38 vs $6,250.00 now. |
Who uses this
- The job seeker weighing an offer in another city: they learn a $75,000.00 salary at index 100 is $90,000.00 at index 120 — and they check the index-85 branch to see what a cheaper city does to the same offer.
- The remote worker choosing where to live: they learn the same $75,000.00 buys $63,750.00 of life at index 85 — and they check the 130 → 100 branch to see what moving home is worth.
- The new graduate comparing two offers: they learn the smallest new index for a $90,000.00 equivalent is 120.00 — and they check the $100,000.00 reverse to see what salary to ask for.
- The family planning a move to New York: they learn index 168 turns $75,000.00 into $126,000.00 — and they check the $45,000.00 edge to see the monthly gap at a lower salary.
Accuracy & limitations
The model is one ratio: the equivalent salary is the current salary times the new index divided by the current index, rounded to cents; the difference and the percent change are computed from the rounded equivalent, and the monthly figures are the annual figures ÷ 12. What the calculator cannot do is price your city: the indices in the table are approximate 2026 values from widely published cost-of-living indexes, for illustration only — look up the index for the exact city before you decide, because two neighborhoods in the same city can differ more than two cities. A cost index blends housing, food, transport and other spending into one number, so it hides the mix: a city can be cheap on rent and dear on groceries. And it does not count taxes — state income tax can move the answer by thousands, so run the take-home math separately.
Cite this calculatorBright Side Kit. “Cost of Living Calculator: Compare Salaries by City” brightoolbox.com, 2026. Method: Equivalent salary = current salary × new-city cost index ÷ current-city cost index; the difference is the equivalent minus the current salary; the percent change is the difference over the current salary; monthly figures are the annual figures ÷ 12. Reverses: smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $90,000 is 120.00 (at 120.00 the figures are Equivalent salary $90,000.00 (+$15,000.00, +20.00%) — monthly $7,500.00 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $89,992.50 (+$14,992.50, +19.99%) — monthly $7,499.38 vs $6,250.00 now); smallest salary for the equivalent to reach $100,000 at 100 → 120 is $83,333.33 (at $83,333.33 the figures are Equivalent salary $100,000.00 (+$16,666.67, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.44 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $99,999.98 (+$16,666.66, +20.00%) — monthly $8,333.33 vs $6,944.44 now); new index for the equivalent to be $60,000 is 80.00 (at 80.00 the figures are Equivalent salary $60,000.00 (−$15,000.00, −20.00%) — monthly $5,000.00 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $59,992.50 (−$15,007.50, −20.01%) — monthly $4,999.38 vs $6,250.00 now); smallest current index for the equivalent to be at most $80,000 with the new index at 120 is 112.50 (at 112.50 the figures are Equivalent salary $80,000.00 (+$5,000.00, +6.67%) — monthly $6,666.67 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $80,007.11 (+$5,007.11, +6.68%) — monthly $6,667.26 vs $6,250.00 now); smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $80,000 is 106.67 (at 106.67 the figures are Equivalent salary $80,002.50 (+$5,002.50, +6.67%) — monthly $6,666.88 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $79,995.00 (+$4,995.00, +6.66%) — monthly $6,666.25 vs $6,250.00 now); smallest new index for the equivalent to reach $100,000 is 133.34 (at 133.34 the figures are Equivalent salary $100,005.00 (+$25,005.00, +33.34%) — monthly $8,333.75 vs $6,250.00 now; at the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent salary $99,997.50 (+$24,997.50, +33.33%) — monthly $8,333.13 vs $6,250.00 now) Bright Side Kit. "Cost of Living Calculator: Compare Salaries by City" https://brightoolbox.com/cost-of-living-calculator/ Accessed October 26, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the cost of living salary for a new city?
Multiply your salary by the new city’s cost index and divide by your current city’s index. A $75,000.00 salary at index 100 moving to index 120 is $75,000.00 × 120 ÷ 100 = $90,000.00.
What cost index should I use for my city?
100 is the US average. The table lists approximate 2026 indices for eight major cities — New York 168, San Francisco 169, Honolulu 165, Boston 148, Los Angeles 147, Seattle 145, Chicago 113 and Dallas 100 — and you should look up the exact index for your city before you decide.
What salary do I need to keep my lifestyle in a cheaper city?
Less than you earn now. At index 85 the equivalent of $75,000.00 is $63,750.00 — $11,250.00 less, or −15.00% — so a pay cut to $63,750.00 buys the same life.
How much more a month is $90,000 than $75,000?
$1,250.00 more a month. $90,000.00 ÷ 12 is $7,500.00 against $75,000.00 ÷ 12, which is $6,250.00.
What new-city index makes $75,000 worth $100,000?
133.34. At index 133.34 the equivalent is $100,005.00; at 133.33 it is only $99,997.50.
Does the calculator include taxes?
No. The cost index blends housing, food, transport and other spending into one number, but it does not count state income tax — run the take-home math separately, because tax alone can move the answer by thousands.
What if my current city is more expensive than the new one?
The equivalent drops. Moving from index 130 to index 100, the equivalent of $75,000.00 is $57,692.31 — $17,307.69 less, or −23.08% — so you can take a pay cut and keep the same life.
Is a cost index of 100 average?
Yes — 100 is the US average. A city at 120 costs about 20% more than the average, and a city at 85 costs about 15% less.