Compare the cost of living across US cities to understand what your salary is really worth in different locations.
For the full framework and comparison workflow, use the Cost of Living hub.
Cost of Living Index: Major US Cities
Index of 100 = National Average. Higher = more expensive.
| City | Overall Index | Housing | Groceries | Transportation | Healthcare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 187 | 325 | 112 | 130 | 108 |
| San Francisco, CA | 180 | 315 | 115 | 125 | 110 |
| Honolulu, HI | 170 | 265 | 145 | 135 | 105 |
| Boston, MA | 152 | 225 | 108 | 115 | 118 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 150 | 240 | 108 | 130 | 105 |
| Seattle, WA | 149 | 230 | 112 | 120 | 110 |
| San Diego, CA | 146 | 225 | 108 | 125 | 108 |
| Washington, DC | 145 | 215 | 105 | 115 | 105 |
| Miami, FL | 138 | 195 | 105 | 110 | 108 |
| Denver, CO | 125 | 175 | 102 | 105 | 105 |
| Austin, TX | 115 | 150 | 98 | 100 | 102 |
| Portland, OR | 112 | 150 | 105 | 110 | 108 |
| Nashville, TN | 105 | 125 | 95 | 98 | 102 |
| National Average | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 98 | 115 | 98 | 100 | 98 |
| Atlanta, GA | 97 | 105 | 98 | 102 | 100 |
| Dallas, TX | 96 | 105 | 95 | 98 | 102 |
| Houston, TX | 92 | 90 | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Charlotte, NC | 92 | 95 | 98 | 95 | 98 |
| San Antonio, TX | 88 | 82 | 92 | 95 | 98 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 87 | 78 | 95 | 92 | 100 |
| Columbus, OH | 89 | 82 | 98 | 95 | 98 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 84 | 72 | 92 | 90 | 95 |
| Memphis, TN | 82 | 68 | 90 | 88 | 95 |
| Wichita, KS | 81 | 65 | 92 | 88 | 92 |
What Your Salary Is Worth: City Comparison
If you earn $75,000 in the national average cost of living area:
| City | Equivalent Salary Needed | $75K Feels Like |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | $140,250 | $40,100 |
| San Francisco | $135,000 | $41,700 |
| Boston | $114,000 | $49,300 |
| Los Angeles | $112,500 | $50,000 |
| Seattle | $111,750 | $50,300 |
| Washington, DC | $108,750 | $51,700 |
| Denver | $93,750 | $60,000 |
| Austin | $86,250 | $65,200 |
| Nashville | $78,750 | $71,400 |
| National Average | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Dallas | $72,000 | $78,100 |
| Houston | $69,000 | $81,500 |
| Indianapolis | $65,250 | $86,200 |
| Oklahoma City | $63,000 | $89,300 |
| Memphis | $61,500 | $91,500 |
Housing Costs Comparison
Housing is the biggest cost of living factor. Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment:
| City | 1BR (City Center) | 1BR (Outside Center) | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $3,200 | $2,500 | $1,350,000 |
| New York City, NY | $3,400 | $2,200 | $750,000* |
| Boston, MA | $2,800 | $2,100 | $680,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,400 | $1,900 | $850,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $2,200 | $1,700 | $780,000 |
| San Diego, CA | $2,300 | $1,800 | $820,000 |
| Washington, DC | $2,200 | $1,700 | $575,000 |
| Miami, FL | $2,400 | $1,800 | $480,000 |
| Denver, CO | $1,800 | $1,400 | $525,000 |
| Austin, TX | $1,700 | $1,300 | $450,000 |
| Nashville, TN | $1,600 | $1,250 | $400,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,500 | $1,100 | $340,000 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,400 | $1,100 | $380,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $1,600 | $1,200 | $350,000 |
| Houston, TX | $1,400 | $1,000 | $290,000 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $1,200 | $850 | $235,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $950 | $750 | $195,000 |
| Memphis, TN | $1,000 | $800 | $180,000 |
*NYC median varies significantly by borough
Other Key Expenses by City
Groceries (Monthly, Single Person)
| City | Groceries |
|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | $500 |
| San Francisco, CA | $450 |
| New York City, NY | $425 |
| Seattle, WA | $415 |
| Boston, MA | $400 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $395 |
| National Average | $350 |
| Dallas, TX | $340 |
| Houston, TX | $335 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $335 |
| Atlanta, GA | $330 |
| Memphis, TN | $315 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $310 |
Transportation (Monthly, Car Owner)
| City | Gas + Insurance + Parking |
|---|---|
| New York City, NY | $550 (or $130 MetroCard) |
| San Francisco, CA | $475 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $450 |
| Seattle, WA | $425 |
| Boston, MA | $420 |
| Washington, DC | $410 |
| National Average | $350 |
| Denver, CO | $340 |
| Austin, TX | $330 |
| Dallas, TX | $320 |
| Houston, TX | $325 |
| Atlanta, GA | $330 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $315 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $290 |
Best Cities for Your Budget
Best Value (Good Jobs + Low Cost)
| City | Median Salary | CoL Index | Value Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $65,000 | 115 | Excellent |
| Dallas, TX | $60,000 | 96 | Very Good |
| Raleigh, NC | $62,000 | 98 | Very Good |
| Nashville, TN | $58,000 | 105 | Good |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $58,000 | 105 | Good |
| Tampa, FL | $52,000 | 95 | Good |
Highest Salaries (May Offset High Costs)
| City | Median Salary | CoL Index | Net Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $95,000 | 180 | Neutral |
| San Jose, CA | $105,000 | 175 | Positive |
| Seattle, WA | $82,000 | 149 | Positive |
| New York City, NY | $72,000 | 187 | Negative |
| Boston, MA | $73,000 | 152 | Neutral |
Most Affordable (Good Quality of Life)
| City | Median Salary | CoL Index | Net Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | $52,000 | 87 | Very Positive |
| Columbus, OH | $54,000 | 89 | Very Positive |
| Kansas City, MO | $53,000 | 89 | Very Positive |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $48,000 | 84 | Positive |
| Louisville, KY | $50,000 | 90 | Positive |
How to Calculate Your Adjusted Salary
Formula: Your Adjusted Salary = (Your Salary × 100) ÷ Target City Index
Example:
- Current salary: $80,000 in Indianapolis (Index: 87)
- Job offer: $95,000 in Denver (Index: 125)
Indianapolis purchasing power: $80,000 × 100 ÷ 87 = $91,954
Denver purchasing power: $95,000 × 100 ÷ 125 = $76,000
Reality: The Denver offer is a pay cut in real terms despite appearing higher.
Factors Beyond the Index
| Factor | Consideration |
|---|---|
| State income tax | Texas, FL, WA have none |
| Local income tax | NYC, some OH cities add local tax |
| Property tax | TX high, CA relatively low (Prop 13) |
| Car necessity | NYC can be car-free; most cities require one |
| Weather | Heating costs vary; cooling costs in South |
| Career growth | Major metros offer more opportunities |
Cost of Living Calculator
To compare two cities, use this formula:
Equivalent Salary = Current Salary × (Target City Index ÷ Current City Index)
Example:
- Current: $70,000 in Houston (Index: 92)
- Target: San Diego (Index: 146)
- Equivalent needed: $70,000 × (146 ÷ 92) = $111,087
You’d need $111K in San Diego to maintain your Houston lifestyle.
Related: Salary Needed to Live in Austin | Average Rent by City | Income Percentile Calculator
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