Salary Equivalence Calculator
Find out how much you need to earn in a new city to maintain your current standard of living — based on official BEA cost-of-living data for 1,800+ US cities.
Compare two cities
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity indices. Reflects overall cost differences, not taxes or take-home pay. US national average = 100.
How it works
Select cities
Choose your current city and the city you're considering moving to.
Enter your salary
Type in your current annual salary (before tax).
See equivalent
We calculate the salary you'd need to maintain the same purchasing power using BEA cost-of-living data.
Popular city comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the equivalent salary calculated?
We use the BEA (Bureau of Economic Analysis) Regional Price Parity (RPP) index for each city's metro area. The formula is: equivalent salary = your salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP). A city with RPP 110 costs 10% more than the US average; one with RPP 90 costs 10% less.
What does the cost of living index mean?
The cost of living index (BEA RPP) measures the overall price level relative to the US national average of 100. An index of 120 means costs are 20% above average; 85 means 15% below average. It covers goods, services, and rents.
Does this account for state income taxes?
No — this calculator focuses on purchasing power based on cost of living index. Taxes, take-home pay, and other financial factors are not included. See individual city comparison pages for tax information.
How current is the data?
The BEA Regional Price Parity data is from the most recent available survey year. RPP data is released annually with approximately a 1–2 year lag. See our methodology page for details.
About the data
Cost of living indices come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities, which are released annually. RPP data is collected at the metro statistical area (MSA) level, so cities within the same metro share the same index. This calculator provides a broad purchasing power comparison — it does not account for individual spending patterns, state taxes, or local employer wage adjustments. For a detailed breakdown, see our methodology page.