Compare cost of living between cities. See how far your paycheck goes in different locations.
Austin, TX is 32% cheaper than Boston, MA. A $50,000 salary in Boston, MA is equivalent to roughly $33,882 in Austin, TX.
Index of 100 = US national average. Lower = cheaper. Use the calculator below for your specific salary.
Cost of Living Difference
-44.9%
Austin, TX vs New York, NY
Equivalent Salary Needed
$27,540
To maintain same lifestyle in Austin, TX
How specific costs compare between cities
Pulls per-city cost indices for rent (1-BR, 2-BR), groceries, transport, healthcare, and tax. Compares two cities at any income level and returns the salary you'd need in city B to match your standard of living in city A.
Before accepting a relocation offer, when evaluating a remote-work salary cap, or when sizing up early-career moves between markets.
Indeed Flex compiles rent indices from Apartment List + Zillow Q-quarterly, food from BLS CPI metro detail, transport from AAA average commuting costs, and healthcare from Kaiser Family Foundation employer survey. Sources update on a rolling 6-month cycle.
General Comparison Data
Cost of living and salary data are estimates based on publicly available sources and averages. Actual costs vary significantly by specific location, lifestyle, and time of year. Housing costs, in particular, can fluctuate rapidly. Use this as a general guide, not a definitive assessment.
Last updated: 2025-01-10
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Yes — the comparison runs through the Paycheck Calculator's tax tables before comparing net dollars. Cities in no-income-tax states (TX, FL, NV, WA, TN) typically show ~5-9% better than nominal salary would suggest.
It's the salary in City B that gives you the same net purchasing power as your current salary in City A. Higher number = City B is more expensive; lower number = City B is cheaper. If the equivalent is < your current offer, the move is a financial upgrade.
Less so — the data reflects standard 12-month lease rates. Short-term rentals (3-6 months) typically run 30-50% higher than the index. Adjust manually if your situation requires it.
Outside the scope of this calculator — it's purely a dollar-comparison tool. Climate, commute time, social networks, and school quality all matter and don't show up here.
No — comparisons live in URL query parameters, so you can bookmark or share a specific comparison, but nothing is saved server-side and we don't capture analytics on salary data.
Decide between options when money is involved.
