01
How much would I spend each month?
See estimated monthly totals for one person, a couple or a family of four. Keep the same lifestyle preset in both cities to make a useful comparison.
Compare city living costs
Cost of living comparison calculator
Compare the cost of living between cities.
Planning a move or weighing a job offer? Compare monthly budgets in 250 cities, see how rent and everyday expenses differ, and estimate the take-home income you would need.
250 cities · 82 countries and territoriesNo signup required
Start your comparisonWhere could you live next?
September 2026 model edition · Monthly USD-equivalent estimates, including housing. Check current local prices before setting your budget.
Understand your next move
What is a cost-of-living comparison?
A cost-of-living comparison estimates how much the same set of everyday expenses costs in two places. Here, you can compare a monthly household budget, see the difference by category and estimate an equivalent take-home income.
02
What salary would I need after moving?
Enter your monthly income after tax to estimate the take-home pay that could support a similar modeled lifestyle at your destination.
Use the equivalent salary calculator03
What should I check before deciding?
Review how the estimates are calculated, then check rental listings, local fares and your household’s extra costs before setting a moving budget.
Read the methodology and limitsStart with the biggest expenses
Compare rent and transport together.
A cheaper apartment may come with a longer commute, car payments or higher utility bills. Compare the combined monthly cost of the home and the routine it creates.
In the United States, housing and transport accounted for just over half of average household spending in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is U.S. context, not a spending rule for every city or household.
Learn how to compare a relocation budget →
What the calculator includes
16 categories behind your monthly budget.
Every city uses the same expense categories. The breakdown shows where the modeled difference comes from, so you can decide which local prices to research first.
Budget separately for the extras.
Income tax, childcare, education, debt repayments, savings and one-time moving costs are outside these totals. The family preset does not add childcare or school fees.
Housing
A monthly housing allowance. Check rental listings for your intended neighborhood, home size and lease terms.
Groceries
Food and household shopping. Dietary choices, local brands and household size can change your actual bill.
Dining out
Meals and drinks away from home. Review this allowance against how often you expect to eat out.
Transport
Everyday travel. Check local transit fares or build a separate car budget with fuel, insurance and parking.
Home utilities
Energy, water, heating and waste collection. Confirm which bills your rent includes.
Internet & mobile
Home internet and mobile service. Check local plans, installation fees and contract terms.
Insurance & protection
Recurring personal, renter and household protection. Coverage requirements and employer benefits vary by location.
Healthcare
A broad allowance for appointments, dental care and treatment. Check your eligibility, insurance and expected out-of-pocket costs.
Medicines & pharmacy
Prescriptions, basic medicine and pharmacy purchases. Local coverage and dispensing rules can affect the amount you pay.
Personal care
Grooming, toiletries and routine personal services. Adjust the allowance to match the products and services you use.
Clothing & footwear
Everyday clothing and footwear. Seasonal needs and workplace expectations can change this amount.
Household goods
Cleaning supplies, small furnishings and home essentials. A new home may need a larger first-year allowance.
Household services
Laundry, cleaning, repairs and routine home help. Local labor costs can make this line change considerably.
Fitness & wellness
Gym, sports and routine wellness spending. Membership choices make this category highly personal.
Entertainment & subscriptions
Streaming, events, games and recurring media. Review subscriptions that may change price or availability after a move.
Leisure
Hobbies, local outings and recreation. Your routine determines how closely this allowance fits.
Explore city budgets
What does it cost to live in another city?
These eight examples show estimated monthly spending for one person with a balanced lifestyle, including housing. All amounts are USD equivalents from the September 2026 model edition.
Rank shows each city’s position among our 250 modeled budgets, from highest to lowest. Search and sort the full index to build your shortlist.
Explore all 250 city budgets →Featured city comparisons
Compare living costs side by side.
Explore city pairs across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. Each preview uses one person, a balanced lifestyle and USD per month, including housing. Open a comparison to change the presets.
Choose your own city pair01Netherlands · United KingdomAmsterdam vs LondonCompare rent, monthly spending and equivalent income.USD / month · estimated$3,420 → $4,000$580 more in London02United StatesNew York, New York vs San Francisco, CaliforniaSee how housing contributes to the budget difference.USD / month · estimated$5,040 → $5,100$60 more in San Francisco, California03CanadaToronto, Ontario vs Vancouver, British ColumbiaCompare the same household budget in two Canadian cities.USD / month · estimated$3,600 → $3,840$240 more in Vancouver, British Columbia04AustraliaMelbourne, Victoria vs Sydney, New South WalesReview housing and everyday expenses side by side.USD / month · estimated$3,340 → $3,860$520 more in Sydney, New South Wales05United Arab Emirates · United KingdomDubai vs LondonCompare living costs before checking taxes separately.USD / month · estimated$3,860 → $4,000$140 more in London06Singapore · SwitzerlandSingapore vs ZurichExplore the monthly budget and take-home income target.USD / month · estimated$3,980 → $4,780$800 more in Zurich07United StatesAustin, Texas vs New York, New YorkCheck the cost difference before weighing a job offer.USD / month · estimated$3,150 → $5,040$1,890 more in New York, New York08Germany · FranceBerlin vs ParisCompare recurring expenses for a move within Europe.USD / month · estimated$2,780 → $3,740$960 more in Paris
From estimate to moving plan
How to use the cost-of-living calculator.
01
Choose your cities
In the calculator, set your current city and destination. Use the swap button if needed; the current city is the base for the percentage difference.
02
Set your household
Choose one person, a couple or a family of four. The same household multiplier applies to both cities.
03
Choose a lifestyle
Use lean, balanced or comfortable to scale the budget. These are broad spending presets, not individual rent or shopping inputs.
04
Read the breakdown
Compare monthly totals, the percentage change and each expense category. Look for the largest differences in dollars.
05
Compare take-home pay
Enter monthly income after tax in USD to see an equivalent income estimate. Review taxes and employer benefits separately.
06
Check local prices
Use current rent, transport and healthcare quotes in your own budget. Add childcare, savings and moving costs where needed.
Beyond the monthly estimate
Is a cheaper city a better financial move?
Lower living costs can help, but the decision also depends on take-home pay, benefits and the cash needed to relocate. Build your plan in three parts.
Recurring living costs
Start with the city estimate, then add the commitments specific to your household.
- Housing, utilities, food and transport
- Healthcare, personal care and leisure
- Childcare and education, if needed
- Debt payments and a savings target
Moving and setup costs
Keep these one-time expenses separate from the recurring city budget.
- Deposits and application fees
- Travel, shipping and temporary housing
- Visas, permits and registrations
- Furniture, equipment and connection fees
Take-home pay and benefits
Compare the income you can spend and the benefits you would keep or lose.
- Net salary after tax and deductions
- Health, pension and employer benefits
- Bonuses, equity and variable income
- Savings target and emergency margin
Check what you would have left.
Subtract your own expected monthly expenses from take-home income in each city. Compare the remaining amount with your savings goal, and budget separately for the move. A lower city total alone does not tell you whether you will be better off.
Relocation and salary guides
Make sense of your comparison.
Learn how to check a city budget, estimate salary needs and understand the difference between living costs and local pay.
01 · Monthly budget
How to compare cost of living between cities
Match your assumptions, interpret the percentage difference and check the largest expenses.
Read comparison guide →
02 · Take-home pay
How to calculate equivalent salary after moving
Compare spending power, review benefits and make room for savings and relocation costs.
Read salary guide →
03 · Job offers
Cost of living versus cost of labor
Understand why a higher household budget does not guarantee higher pay for your role.
Read compensation guide →Where the estimates come from.
Modeled planning estimates
Living Cost Comparison maintains rounded USD-equivalent budgets. These are broad city estimates, not live prices or quotes for your household.
September 2026 edition
This identifies the current model edition. Individual values do not yet include provider-level citations, local observation dates or live exchange-rate timestamps.
Shared assumptions
Household and lifestyle presets scale the same basket. The expanded category view separates bundled spending without changing the city total.
Frequently asked questions
Cost-of-living comparison questions, answered.
How do I compare the cost of living between two cities?+
Choose your current city and destination, then use the same household and lifestyle settings in both. Compare the monthly totals and category breakdown. Before deciding on a move, check local rent and transport prices and add expenses specific to your household.
Does this cost-of-living calculator include rent?+
Yes. Housing is included in the monthly total, alongside food, transport, utilities, connectivity, insurance, healthcare, personal and household spending, fitness, entertainment and leisure. Housing is a modeled allowance; it is not a quote for a particular apartment or neighborhood.
Can I compare costs for a couple or a family of four?+
Yes. Choose one person, a couple or a family of four, with a lean, balanced or comfortable lifestyle. These presets scale the same city basket using fixed multipliers. They do not price each family member separately, and childcare and school fees are excluded.
What salary do I need to maintain my lifestyle in another city?+
The calculator multiplies your current monthly take-home income by the destination budget divided by the current-city budget. The result is an estimated net-income target in USD. Calculate taxes separately to work back to a gross salary, and check local market pay and benefits before evaluating an offer.
Which currency does the comparison use?+
All budgets and salary inputs use US dollars or USD equivalents so cities can be compared on the same basis. The calculator does not use live exchange rates. Check the current exchange rate separately if you earn or spend in another currency.
Where do the cost estimates come from, and how current are they?+
Living Cost Comparison maintains rounded, modeled estimates. The current model edition is September 2026; this is not a date of verified local price collection. Individual prices do not yet have provider-level citations or live exchange-rate timestamps. Use the estimates to shortlist cities, then check current local quotes.
What costs should I add to my relocation budget?+
Add childcare, education, debt repayments, savings goals and one-time moving costs such as deposits, travel, visas and shipping. These are outside the monthly city basket. Taxes and employer benefits also need a separate review when comparing take-home income.
Is a cost-of-living comparison the same as inflation?+
No. A city comparison looks at differences in estimated costs between places. Inflation measures price changes over time. A city can have slower inflation and still be more expensive than another city.
Your next move starts hereCompare two cities
Plan with a clearer budget