About this calculator
When you compare two salaries in different cities, you need to adjust for cost of living. A $120k offer in San Francisco may have less real spending power than a $80k offer in Austin. Cost-of-living indices (Numbeo, BestPlaces, COLI) express each city’s overall cost relative to a US baseline of 100. This calculator translates between them.
The formula
Equivalent salary = current salary × (new COL / current COL). So $100k in a COL-100 city is equivalent to $150k in a COL-150 city. If the new offer is below that equivalent, you’re taking a real pay cut despite the bigger number.
Where COL indices break down
The composite index averages housing, food, transportation, healthcare, etc. — but housing dominates real-world budgets. SF housing is 3× Austin housing; food is 1.3×. If you rent (housing-dominant), the gap feels larger than the index says. If you own outright (no housing cost change), the gap is smaller. State income tax is also separate from COL — California adds 9–13% on top of high housing costs.
Things this calculator misses
- State income tax — moving from CA to TX is worth ~5–10% more take-home regardless of COL.
- Real estate appreciation — owning in a high-growth metro can offset higher costs long-term.
- Lifestyle preferences — beach access, mountains, climate, social scene. These don’t show up in COL.
- Family situation — childcare costs vary hugely and aren’t well captured.