What this tool does
This calculator answers a common job-offer question: what salary in City B leaves me the same money after taxes and everyday costs as my salary in City A? It solves for the salary directly using each city's tax engine and a typical monthly budget.
How to use it
- Choose your current city and salary.
- Choose the city you are considering.
- Read the equivalent salary and the comparison table.
How it works
The tool computes what is left each year in City A (take-home pay minus a typical one-adult budget), then searches for the City B salary that leaves the same amount. Because taxes are progressive, the answer is not a simple ratio of living costs.
Worked example
Using the default inputs:
| Item (yearly) | Seattle | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | $110,000 | $165,048 |
| Take-home pay | $84,689 | $108,973 |
| Typical living costs (estimate) | $49,056 | $73,340 |
| Left over | $35,633 | $35,633 |
Equivalent salary in New York City: $165,000. To match $110,000 in Seattle (+50.0%).
The equivalent salary is found by searching for the New York City salary whose take-home pay, after that city's typical costs, leaves the same $35,633 a year. New York City needs a higher salary mainly because of higher rent and a state income tax that Seattle does not have.
What drives the result
Rent is usually the biggest factor. Moving from a no-income-tax city (Houston, Dallas, Miami, Seattle) to New York City or California adds state and sometimes city tax on every extra dollar, so the equivalent salary rises faster than rent alone would suggest.
What $100,000 in New York City equals elsewhere
As an example, this table runs the calculator for a single filer earning $100,000 in New York City and finds the salary in each other city that leaves the same money after taxes and a typical one-adult budget.
| City | Equivalent salary | Change from $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $78,800 | -21% |
| Los Angeles | $60,300 | -40% |
| Houston | $38,700 | -61% |
| Dallas | $42,000 | -58% |
| Chicago | $54,300 | -46% |
| Miami | $59,000 | -41% |
| Atlanta | $46,200 | -54% |
| Boston | $74,600 | -25% |
| Seattle | $55,700 | -44% |
| Washington DC | $61,600 | -38% |
Results depend heavily on rent, which is the largest item in each budget. If you already know what you would pay for housing in the new city, the rent-to-income and cost of living tools give a more personal comparison than these typical figures.
Tips
- Use offers' total compensation, not base pay alone, if bonuses are large.
- Remember retirement matches and health costs.
- Check the result with your own rent in each city's Cost of Living Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as a cost-of-living index?
No. It includes taxes, which a simple index leaves out, and finds the salary that leaves the same money after both.
Why isn't the answer just proportional to rent?
Because extra salary is taxed at your marginal rate, which differs by city.
Can I change the budget?
This tool uses starting estimates; each city's Cost of Living Calculator lets you edit every line.
Sources
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, legal, real estate, or insurance advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions.