Cost of Living Calculator
Compare cities — see what salary you need to maintain your lifestyle
Cost of Living Index by City
US National Average = 100. Higher index = more expensive. Source: estimated from BLS, Numbeo, and C2ER data.
| City | COL Index | vs National Avg |
|---|
How the Calculator Works
Housing drives the gap. In expensive cities, rent can consume 40–50% of take-home pay. The biggest cost of living differences between cities come from housing, not groceries or utilities.
Most Expensive US Cities to Live In
| Rank | City | COL Index | vs National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honolulu, HI | 196 | +96% |
| 2 | New York City, NY | 187 | +87% |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | 175 | +75% |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | 180 | +80% |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | 168 | +68% |
| 6 | Boston, MA | 162 | +62% |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | 158 | +58% |
| 8 | Washington, DC | 152 | +52% |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | 150 | +50% |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | 150 | +50% |
Most Affordable US Cities to Live In
| Rank | City | COL Index | vs National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | 84 | −16% |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | 85 | −15% |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | 86 | −14% |
| 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | 88 | −12% |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | 88 | −12% |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | 90 | −10% |
| 7 | Louisville, KY | 91 | −9% |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | 93 | −7% |
| 9 | St. Louis, MO | 93 | −7% |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | 94 | −6% |
What Costs Make Up Cost of Living?
| Category | Weight in COL | Varies Most In |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent/mortgage) | ~30–40% | Coastal cities vs midwest |
| Transportation | ~15–18% | NYC (public transit) vs car-dependent cities |
| Food & groceries | ~12–15% | Honolulu (highest), midwest (lowest) |
| Healthcare | ~8–10% | Tied to employer, less city-dependent |
| Utilities | ~6–8% | Extreme climates (AK, HI, TX summer) |
| Miscellaneous | ~15–20% | Entertainment, dining, personal care |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a cost of living calculator work?
It divides the cost of living index of your target city by your current city's index, then multiplies by your salary. If your target city is 30% cheaper, you need 30% less salary to maintain the same standard of living.
If I make $100,000 in NYC, what do I need in Austin?
Austin's COL index (~122) is roughly 65% of NYC's (~187). So $100,000 in NYC ≈ $65,000 in Austin. You could accept a job paying $65K in Austin and live at the same level you currently do in NYC.
What is the most expensive city in the US?
Honolulu, HI has the highest cost of living index (~196), followed by New York City (~187), San Francisco (~180), and San Jose (~175). These cities cost roughly 75–100% more than the national average.
Does remote work change cost of living math?
Yes — significantly. If you keep your San Francisco salary ($120K) and move to Austin, your purchasing power jumps from $120K to the equivalent of $185K locally. Remote work is one of the fastest ways to dramatically improve lifestyle without a raise.
Are these indices exact?
These are estimates based on BLS, Numbeo, and C2ER data averaged over recent years. Actual costs vary by neighborhood, lifestyle, and housing type. Use this as a planning guide, not a precise figure.