Cost of Living Calculator

Annual Income (USD)

$75K

$75K = £56K

Adults

Children

Compares monthly costs across 429 cities in 111 countries.

New York

London

-23.0%

less expensive

Salary Equivalence

Income needed in London, United Kingdom for the same standard of living

Equivalent Salary

$58K/yr

Monthly Cost

$6K

New York, NY

Monthly Cost

$5K

London, United Kingdom

You'll spend $1K/mo less ($17K/yr)

Category Breakdown

Monthly costs in USD

New York

London

Housing

$3K → $2K-31%

Grocery

$434 → $398-8%

Transportation

$378 → $385+2%

Healthcare

$155 → $116-25%

Utilities

$469 → $363-23%

Miscellaneous

$1K → $1K-12%

How the Calculator Works

Compare living costs across 400+ cities worldwide

This calculator estimates your total monthly expenses in both cities by computing costs across six spending categories. Each category has a city-specific index (100 = US average) and a baseline monthly cost calibrated to the C2ER methodology weights:

Miscellaneous32.5% of budget

Housing29.9% of budget

Grocery12.7% of budget

Utilities10.3% of budget

Transport10.2% of budget

Healthcare4.4% of budget

The headline percentage and equivalent salary are derived directly from the sum of these category costs — so the top-line figure always matches the detailed breakdown. Costs are shown in your local currency (auto-detected from the "From" city) using daily exchange rates. Household adjustments account for economies of scale — housing shares well, while groceries scale more linearly.

How to Use This Calculator

5 simple steps to compare any two cities

Pick your current city

Search by name or country from 400+ cities across 100+ countries.

Pick your destination

Select where you're considering moving. Use the swap button to reverse.

Enter your income

Your salary in local currency. The calculator auto-converts between currencies.

Set household size

Adults and children — costs adjust for shared expenses like rent and utilities.

Read your results

See the % difference, equivalent salary, monthly costs per category, and annual impact.

Understanding the Cost of Living Index

What the numbers mean — from 20 (cheapest) to 238 (most expensive)

Very AffordableIndex 20–40

Delhi (35), Kolkata (26), Hanoi (32), Bangkok (48), Medellin (32) — 60–80% below US average

Below AverageIndex 40–70

Prague (65), Athens (70), Istanbul (48), Mexico City (42), Cape Town (48) — significant savings

Near AverageIndex 70–110

Berlin (95), Madrid (85), Montreal (98), Dallas (100), Nashville (100) — close to US baseline

Above AverageIndex 110–150

London (145), Singapore (130), Sydney (128), Paris (130), Boston (148) — 10–50% premium

Very ExpensiveIndex 150+

Zurich (175), Manhattan (238), San Francisco (179), Geneva (170), Honolulu (170)

Salary Equivalence Explained

How much you'd need to earn to maintain your lifestyle

The equivalent salary answers: "How much would I need to earn in the new city to maintain my current standard of living?"

Equivalent Salary = Current Salary × (Destination Monthly Cost ÷ Current Monthly Cost)

The calculator computes actual monthly expenses in both cities using category-level indices and uses that ratio for the salary adjustment — ensuring the headline percentage and salary figure always agree with the detailed breakdown.

Real-world examples:

$100K in NYC~$74K in Londonsave ~26%

$100K in SF~$11K in Bangaloresave ~89%

$50K in Dallas~$98K in NYCneed ~96% more

Limitations and Assumptions

Important caveats for international comparisons

Neighborhood variation

Indices are city-wide averages — a Manhattan apartment costs 5x a Bronx one

Currency fluctuation

Exchange rates change daily. Costs are converted at current rates

Quality differences

A 'typical' apartment in Tokyo is very different from one in Mumbai

Tax systems

Income tax, VAT, property tax vary dramatically and are only partially captured

Healthcare models

Public vs private systems aren't reflected — Canada's free healthcare vs US costs

Expat premium

Foreigners often pay 20–40% more due to imported goods and international schools

For major relocation decisions, combine these estimates with local research on specific neighborhoods, rental listings, tax implications, and visa requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and detailed answers

The calculator estimates your total monthly expenses in each city across six categories: Housing (29.9% of a typical budget), Miscellaneous goods & services (32.5%), Grocery (12.7%), Utilities (10.3%), Transportation (10.2%), and Healthcare (4.4%). Each category has a city-specific index reflecting local prices relative to the US average. The headline percentage and equivalent salary are computed from the ratio of these total monthly costs — so the top-line figure always matches the detailed category breakdown. This approach is more accurate than using a single overall index because it accounts for how different categories change at different rates between cities.

Cost of living indices are reliable for relative comparisons — knowing that London is roughly 50% more expensive than Berlin, or that Mumbai is 80% cheaper than San Francisco. However, they are metropolitan area averages and won't capture neighborhood-level differences (Manhattan vs. Brooklyn costs differ dramatically). Individual lifestyle choices, dietary preferences, and housing standards also create significant variation. Exchange rate movements can shift comparisons by 10–20% within a single year. For major relocations, use this calculator as a starting point, then validate with local apartment listings, grocery store prices, and tax calculators for your specific situation.

The most expensive major cities globally (by cost of living index): Manhattan, New York (238) — the world's costliest, driven by extreme housing prices. Zurich (175) and Geneva (170) in Switzerland follow, with high costs across all categories. San Francisco (179) and Honolulu (170) lead in the US. London (145) tops Europe outside Switzerland. Singapore (130) and Hong Kong (138) are Asia's priciest. Sydney (128) leads Oceania, and Tel Aviv (128) tops the Middle East. In all cases, housing is the dominant cost driver — Manhattan's housing index is 498, meaning housing costs nearly 5x the US average.

The most affordable cities with good infrastructure for remote work include: Southeast Asia — Chiang Mai, Thailand (32), Ho Chi Minh City (35), Bali, Indonesia (38), and Kuala Lumpur (42) offer fast internet, coworking spaces, and extremely low living costs. South Asia — Bangalore (36), Pune (28), and Hyderabad (30) in India combine tech hubs with low costs. Latin America — Medellin (32), Mexico City (42), and Buenos Aires (38) offer vibrant culture at affordable prices. Eastern Europe — Krakow (50), Budapest (55), and Bucharest (48) provide European lifestyle at a fraction of Western European costs. Many digital nomads report living comfortably on $1,000–2,000/month in these cities.

The calculator computes your total estimated monthly expenses in both cities across six categories (housing, grocery, transportation, healthcare, utilities, miscellaneous), then scales your salary by the ratio of those totals. For example, if monthly costs are $7,200 in New York and $5,400 in London, you'd need 75% of your NYC salary to maintain the same lifestyle in London — so $80,000 becomes roughly $60,000. This approach is more accurate than using a single overall index number because it accounts for the specific mix of category-level cost differences. Important caveat: this doesn't include tax differences, which can be substantial.

The calculator automatically detects your currency based on the 'From' city you select. If you pick Mumbai, it shows amounts in INR (Indian Rupees) with Indian number formatting (Lakhs and Crores). If you pick London, amounts show in GBP. Income entered in local currency is converted to USD internally using live exchange rates (updated daily from Floatrates), then all results are displayed back in your local currency. A conversion note below the income field shows the equivalent in the destination currency. All cost of living indices are currency-neutral — they measure relative purchasing power, not absolute prices.

Tax burdens are partially captured through the Miscellaneous category (32.5% weight), but individual tax situations vary enormously. Key differences not fully captured: zero-income-tax countries (UAE, Qatar, Singapore for most income) vs. high-tax countries (Denmark up to 55%, Sweden up to 52%); sales tax/VAT differences (0% in some US states vs. 25% in Scandinavia); property tax variations; and social security contributions. Healthcare is especially tricky — the UK's NHS is free at point of use, Canada has universal coverage, while US healthcare costs can be $500–2,000/month for insurance alone. For accurate financial planning, pair this calculator with a country-specific tax calculator.

Household size changes costs differently across categories. Housing and utilities benefit from economies of scale — a couple doesn't pay double rent. Each additional adult adds roughly 35% to housing costs but 75% to grocery costs. Children add about 15% to housing but 50% to groceries. Healthcare scales nearly linearly (90% per additional adult). Transportation also scales significantly (80% per adult). In practice, this means a family of four typically spends about 2.0–2.5x what a single person does, not 4x. These multipliers are applied consistently across all cities, so the relative comparison between cities remains valid regardless of household size.

Several important factors fall outside cost indices: Quality of life — climate, air quality, safety, commute times, cultural amenities, and political stability. Education — public school quality varies enormously; international schools in developing countries can cost $15,000–40,000/year. Immigration — visa fees, work permit restrictions, and residency requirements. Career impact — some cities offer significantly higher earning potential in specific industries (tech in SF, finance in London/NYC). Social capital — leaving your professional network, family support system, and social circle has real economic value. Cultural adjustment — language barriers, dietary changes, and different social norms affect daily life and spending patterns.

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Last updated Apr 3, 2026