Cost of Living Comparison
Compare two US cities side by side and see what salary you need to keep your lifestyle.
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Category breakdown
Each category index uses the same scale, with the US average at 100. Housing moves fastest, so it drives most of the gap between expensive and cheap cities.
How cost of living comparisons work
This free tool compares the cost of living in two US cities. It is for anyone thinking about moving, taking a job in a new city, or working remotely from a cheaper place. It is free to use, needs no sign-up, and runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How does a cost of living comparison work?
A cost of living comparison puts two cities on the same scale, with the United States average set at 100. A city scored at 150 costs about 50 percent more than the national average, while a city scored at 85 costs about 15 percent less.
What salary do I need in the second city to keep my lifestyle?
Multiply your current salary by the second city index and divide by your current city index. For example, 80,000 dollars in New York, index 168, equals about 40,476 dollars in Memphis, index 85, because Memphis costs much less overall. The calculator does this maths for you and shows the result as a yearly salary and a monthly figure.
Why is housing the biggest cost difference between cities?
Housing is the largest cost in a household budget, and rents and house prices vary far more between cities than food or transport prices do. In this calculator housing moves about 1.6 times as fast as the overall index, which is why expensive cities look worse on housing than on groceries. Check local rents first before you trust any index.
How are the category indexes worked out?
Each category starts from the city overall index and scales the gap from 100. Housing uses the gap times 1.6, groceries and healthcare use the gap times 0.5, transport uses the gap times 0.6, and utilities use the gap times 0.4. Results are rounded and clamped to sensible ranges, so housing stays between 55 and 260 and the other categories stay near the national average. It is a simple, open method, not a survey of real local prices.
Which US cities are the most and least expensive in 2025?
In the 2025 estimates used here, San Francisco is the most expensive city at 195, then San Jose at 180 and New York at 168. Memphis is the cheapest at 85, Cleveland and St Louis at 90. Numbeo 2025 cost of living data shows the pattern, with California and New York at the top and mid-South cities near the bottom.
How accurate are cost of living index values?
Index values are estimates built from average prices for rent, food, transport and services, so they describe a household, not your spending. Your own costs depend on where you live in the city, whether you rent or own, and how much you drive, eat out and travel. Use the index as a starting point, then check rents and bills there.
What costs should I check before moving to a new city?
Start with rent, because it is the biggest gap between cities and the hardest cost to change after moving. Then check state income tax, commuting costs, childcare, and health insurance, since these vary widely by place. Finally, look at prices for groceries and fuel, and add a buffer of 5 to 10 percent for costs you have not counted yet.
Does a higher salary always mean a better life in an expensive city?
Not always. A higher salary in an expensive city can leave you with less money than a lower salary in a cheap city, once rent, tax and transport are paid. Compare the equivalent salary, not the number, and weigh commute time, safety, schools and job options. The best move is the one that leaves you better off after all costs.
What the same New York salary is worth in Memphis
This table is generated from the calculator’s own formula, multiplying each New York salary by 85 and dividing by 168. It shows how far the same pay stretches when you move to the cheapest city on this list.
| Salary in New York | Equivalent salary in Memphis | Monthly equivalent in Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $25,298 | $2,108 |
| $80,000 | $40,476 | $3,373 |
| $100,000 | $50,595 | $4,216 |
| $150,000 | $75,893 | $6,324 |
Frequently asked questions
What is a cost of living index?
A cost of living index is a single number that sums up how expensive a place is, with the national average set at 100. A city at 150 costs about 50 percent more than average, and a city at 85 costs about 15 percent less.
How much salary do I need to move from New York to Memphis?
About 40,476 dollars a year, if you earn 80,000 dollars in New York. Memphis has an overall index of 85 against New York at 168, so the same lifestyle costs far less there. New York costs about 98 percent more than Memphis overall.
Which city is the cheapest on this list?
Memphis is the cheapest of the 24 cities in this calculator, with an overall index of 85. Cleveland and St Louis are next at 90, followed by Columbus at 95.
Why is housing so much more expensive in big cities?
Demand for homes in big job centres is high and land near the centre is limited, so rents and house prices rise much faster than food or fuel prices. Housing is also the largest part of most household budgets, so the gap matters more than any other category.
Are these cost of living figures exact?
No. The index values are 2025 estimates for a typical household, and your own spending depends on your neighbourhood, your housing, and your lifestyle. Treat the result as a guide and check real rents, taxes and bills before you move.
Should I use monthly spending instead of salary?
Yes, if your spending is what you want to compare. Choose monthly spending in the dropdown, enter what you spend each month now, and the calculator shows what the same spending would be in the other city each month.
Does this calculator store my data?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored or shared.
More tools you may need
Working out whether you can afford the rent in a new city? Try our Rent Affordability Calculator. Moving to the UK instead? Check the UK Take Home Pay Calculator and the UK Stamp Duty Calculator.
