How to calculate the salary you need in another city
Compare cities by cost index, not by headline salary. Work out the equivalent gross salary that leaves you the same take-home spending power after local tax and living costs.
The rule
Equivalent salary = current salary × (destination cost index ÷ current cost index), adjusted for local tax rates
Do it automatically — Cost-of-living / city salary compareStep by step
- 1Find the cost index for both cities, weighted heavily towards housing.
- 2Scale your current salary by the ratio of the two indices.
- 3Adjust for the destination's tax and social contribution system, which can differ enormously.
- 4Add one-off relocation costs and any change in commuting or childcare.
What trips people up
- • Housing dominates the difference between cities — treat other categories as secondary.
- • A higher gross salary in a higher-tax country can still leave you worse off.
Common questions
Should I compare gross or net?
Always net, then adjust for local costs — gross comparisons across countries are misleading.
What about healthcare?
In the US especially, employer healthcare is a major part of effective compensation.
Skip the maths
Rough equivalent salary needed to keep the same lifestyle in a different city.
Open the salary needed elsewhere tool