Cost of Living Calculator
Compare two cities side by side, or estimate a monthly budget for one. Enter your own known or researched costs and let the numbers do the talking.
Monthly Costs by Category
Enter your monthly cost for each category in both cities. Leave anything blank if it does not apply.
Estimate a Monthly Budget
Enter your expected or known monthly cost for each category in this city.
Category Breakdown
How each category compares between the two cities.
| Category | City A | City B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Budget Breakdown
Your estimated monthly cost by category, and what share of the total each one represents.
| Category | Amount | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Total | $0 | 100% |
Comparing the Cost of Living Between Cities
Moving to a new city, taking a remote job based somewhere else, or simply curious how your current budget would hold up elsewhere, all of these come down to the same question: how do everyday costs in one place compare to another. This calculator does not rely on a fixed index or a third-party database, since cost of living data goes stale quickly and varies enormously even within the same city depending on neighbourhood and lifestyle. Instead, you enter your own numbers, your researched rent estimate, your actual grocery spending, your real transport costs, and the calculator handles the comparison math.
You can compare two cities side by side, useful when weighing a job offer or a move, or estimate a single city budget on its own, useful when planning ahead for a relocation or just getting a clearer picture of your current spending. Both modes break costs into the same seven categories so you can see exactly where the difference comes from rather than a single vague number.
Where to Find Reliable Cost Data
Rent is usually the biggest variable and the easiest to research directly through local listing sites for the neighbourhood you would actually live in, since city-wide averages can be misleading. Utilities, groceries, and transport are often easiest to estimate by asking someone who already lives there or checking local cost of living forums and subreddits for that specific city. Healthcare costs vary enormously by country and by whether you have employer coverage, public healthcare, or need private insurance, so this is worth researching carefully rather than guessing.
Understanding the Equivalent Salary Estimate
If you enter your current salary in City A, the comparison mode estimates roughly what salary you would need in City B to maintain the same standard of living, based purely on the ratio between the two total costs you entered. This is a simple proportional estimate, not a financial guarantee, since it does not account for differences in income tax, cost of healthcare coverage, or local salary norms for your profession. Treat it as a useful starting point for a negotiation or a budget conversation, not a final number.
Like every tool on this site, nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere. All calculations happen directly in your browser, so you can compare as many city pairs as you like without creating an account or leaving a trace.
Frequently Asked Questions
This calculator does not use a built-in cost of living index. You enter your own known or researched costs for each category, and the tool handles the comparison math. This keeps the numbers accurate to your specific situation rather than relying on a city-wide average that may not reflect your neighbourhood or lifestyle.
It is a simple proportional estimate based on the ratio between your two total monthly costs. It does not account for income tax differences, healthcare coverage, or local salary norms in your profession, so treat it as a starting point for further research rather than a guaranteed figure.
Yes. Convert both sets of costs into the same currency first using the Currency Converter, then enter the converted amounts here. The comparison only works correctly when both cities are entered in the same currency.
Leave it blank. The calculator treats any empty field as zero and still gives you a useful comparison or budget total based on the categories you did fill in.
No. All calculations happen directly in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere or stored. Download the PDF summary if you want to keep a record.
Use whichever applies to your situation. If you own your home, you can enter your monthly mortgage payment plus property tax and home insurance in the Rent category as a stand in for housing cost, since the calculator simply treats it as your monthly housing expense.