Cost of living & salary comparison calculator
Enter your current salary and pick the state you're moving from and to. This calculator converts the salary using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio — equivalent = salary × (RPP destination ÷ RPP origin) — to estimate the pay you'd need to keep the same standard of living. It covers all 51 states and DC and runs entirely in your browser. It compares price levels only, so it excludes income tax and your local job market.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP), all items. Data as of June 2026.
How it works
Regional Price Parities (RPP) measure how expensive a state is relative to the US average, set to 100. To keep your buying power when you move, your salary should change by the same proportion as the two states' price levels. The formula is intentionally simple and transparent:
equivalent salary = current salary × (RPP of destination ÷ RPP of origin)
See the methodology for the data vintages and the assumptions behind this calculation, and each state page for the underlying RPP, income and rent.
Frequently asked questions
How does the cost-of-living salary calculator work?
It scales your salary by the ratio of the two states' price levels: equivalent = current salary × (RPP of destination ÷ RPP of origin). RPP is the BEA Regional Price Parity, an all-items index where the US average is 100. So moving to a state with a higher RPP needs a higher salary to break even, and vice versa. It runs entirely in your browser.
Does the calculator include taxes?
No. It estimates the salary needed to match prices (housing, goods, services) between states only. It does not account for state income tax, sales tax or your actual job market — all of which can change the real comparison. Treat the result as a starting estimate, not financial advice.
How accurate is the result?
It is as accurate as the inputs: BEA Regional Price Parities (2022) are official estimates for an entire state, so a specific city can be much more or less expensive than the state average. Verify against the BEA and your own budget before relying on it.
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Last updated: 2026-06-18