Where this fits
Use this when weighing a move, a remote-work relocation, a job offer in another city, or repricing freelance rates for a new area.
Cost of living
Cost of living income calculator
Compare the cost indices for where you live and where you may move. See the equivalent income there and whether an offer covers it.
Example
If your current index is 100 and the new place is 118, a $100,000 lifestyle needs about $118,000 there.
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Income you'd need there
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What this means
A planning estimate. Your own taxes, housing, and budget can shift it.
Track in Goal CueOr preview instantly on this iPhone →Use the result
From answer to action.
Once you settle on the number, Goal Cue turns it into a day-by-day income pace for the year.
Track this in Goal Cue →How to find the cost-of-living number
If a comparison says the new place is 20% more expensive, use 100 and 120. If you use BEA Regional Price Parities, enter the published index for both locations; the calculator divides the new index by the current one.
Turn the estimate into a goal
The best output is not just a number, it's a target you can track. Goal Cue keeps that target visible as expected progress, actual earnings, and next pace.
Method and source
For U.S. metro areas, the Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes Regional Price Parities — how far a dollar goes in each area compared with the national average.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesCommon questions
Is this a full household budget?
No. It is a quick planning estimate for an income target. Housing, taxes, healthcare, family size, and debt can all change the right number.
How do I find the cost-of-living number for a city?
Use a direct comparison between the two places, or BEA Regional Price Parities for U.S. areas. For BEA data, enter both published indices rather than assuming your current location is 100.
More tools
More calculators.
Inflation calculator
Inflation-adjusted income goal calculator
Calculate how much your income goal needs to rise to keep the same buying power after inflation, then track the goal in Goal Cue.
Raise calculator
Salary inflation calculator
Check whether a raise beats inflation, how much salary is needed to keep buying power, and what that means for your yearly income goal.
Freelance pace
Freelance income goal calculator
Calculate where freelance, creator, contractor, or 1099 income should be by now and what weekly pace is needed to hit the annual goal.