City comparison guide
Why cost of living matters more than salary
A $90,000 offer sounds the same everywhere — but it is not. In Memphis or San Antonio it can fund a comfortable life with room to save. In San Jose, New York City or Boston the same salary can be swallowed by rent before you reach the grocery store. The biggest driver is housing, followed by state and local taxes, transport and everyday prices.
This guide lets you compare 29 major US metros and jump to a city page that already applies the correct state income tax so you are comparing real take-home pay, not just gross salary. Figures draw on regional price and rent data and each state's department of revenue. To put a number on it, use the salary-needed-for-cost-of-living calculator.
Highest cost of living (plan for a bigger salary)
These metros carry the steepest housing and overall costs. You generally need a noticeably higher salary here to reach the same standard of living — though some, like the Texas and Florida cities, soften the blow with no state income tax.
Mid cost of living
Large, balanced metros where a typical professional salary stretches reasonably far. Several sit in no-income-tax states, which helps your net pay.
Lower cost of living (salary goes furthest)
Your paycheck stretches the furthest in these metros, where housing is far cheaper than the coastal cities. A modest salary can support a comfortable life and real savings.
Run your numbers
Work out the salary you need in any city
Combine local prices, state tax and your lifestyle to find the salary that actually covers a city — and what you keep after tax.
Salary Needed
Income to cover a city's living costs.
Salary for a Mortgage
Income to afford a home in the metro.
Take-Home by State
Net pay with the right state tax.
Compare Two Cities
Side-by-side after-tax pay.
Cost-of-Living Raise
Raise needed to keep up with inflation.
No-Tax States
Where the state takes nothing.
Questions
Cost of living by city FAQ
How much does cost of living vary between US cities?
Enormously. The same lifestyle that costs $60,000 a year in a low-cost metro like San Antonio or Memphis can cost over $100,000 in San Jose, New York City or Boston, driven mostly by housing. A salary that feels generous in one city can be tight in another, which is why you should compare cost of living before relocating.
Does cost of living include taxes?
A full comparison should. Two cities with identical rent can leave very different amounts in your pocket if one is in a no-income-tax state like Texas or Florida and the other is in a high-tax state. Always compare take-home pay, not gross salary, when weighing cities.
What is the most expensive US city to live in?
Among the cities we cover, San Jose, New York City, Boston, San Diego and Los Angeles are the most expensive, largely because of housing costs. Lower-cost large cities include San Antonio, Memphis, Indianapolis, Columbus and Kansas City.
How do I work out the salary I need in a city?
Start from local rent and typical expenses, add your state and federal tax, and work back to the gross salary that leaves enough take-home. Our cost-of-living salary calculator does this for you, and each city page shows the local picture with the relevant state tax already applied.
- Sources: Regional price & rent data (city cost comparison) · State departments of revenue (state income tax) · IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 federal brackets) · SSA 2026 OASDI wage base ($184,500).
- 🔄 Last updated June 25, 2026 · Tax year 2026
Find the salary your city really needs
Enter a city's costs and your lifestyle to see the gross salary — and the take-home pay — that covers it in 2026.
Open the cost-of-living calculator