Relocation · Budget
Cost of living comparison.
Enter what you spend a month where you live now and what you expect to spend where you are going. The tool shows the change and the income that keeps up.
Your costs, per month
Comparison
Enter your current costs.
How to compare the cost of living between two places
Add up what you spend each month in each place, then compare the totals. Costs rise by (new total - current total) / current total. This tool uses only figures you enter, because published city indexes are built on a basket of goods that may not match how you live.
Worked example. Income 80,000. Now: housing 1,800, food 600, transport 400, utilities 250, other 650 = 3,700.00 a month. New place: 2,400 + 700 + 300 + 300 + 700 = 4,400.00. The change is +700.00 a month (+18.9%), or +8,400.00 a year. Two ways to the income you need:
- Same ratio: 80,000 x 4,400.00 / 3,700.00 = 95,135.14. This scales income with costs, so the share of income spent on costs stays the same.
- Same leftover: 80,000 + 8,400.00 = 88,400.00. This keeps the dollars left after costs the same, which works best with after-tax income because higher pay is taxed.
Use real numbers for the new place: current listings for rent, a grocery receipt estimate, your insurance and transit quotes. Remember one-off costs (the move itself, deposits) and taxes, which differ by region and are not in the monthly figures.
Frequently asked questions
Why does this not have city data?
Cost indexes are broad averages, and a made-up figure for your suburb would mislead you. Enter the rent you were quoted and the costs you really pay.
Which salary figure should I trust?
If your rent rises while other costs are flat, the same-leftover figure is the more direct. The same-ratio figure suits a move where every cost scales together. Compare both.
Should I use pre-tax or after-tax income?
After-tax gives the clearer picture for the same-leftover figure, since your costs are paid from take-home pay. Tax rates differ by place, so check them separately.
Does it include the cost of moving?
No. Use the move-in cost calculator and the moving labour and truck tools for one-off costs.
Basis
Checked
All numbers come from what you type. No prices or regional figures are built in.
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent or stored.
Scope
Everything here is arithmetic on the numbers you provide. It is not financial advice and does not model taxes or inflation. Planning aid, not professional, legal or financial advice.