PayCalculator

Moving Salary Calculator

Thinking about moving? Find out what you'd need to earn in a new city to keep the same lifestyle — after tax AND after cost of living.

Currency: USD

Equivalent salary in New York

$191,513

To match the after-tax, after-cost-of-living buying power of $100,000 in Austin, you would need to earn roughly $191,513 in New York.

That's a +$91,513 change from your current $100,000.

Current: Austin

Gross
$100,000
Net after tax
$78,736
Effective rate
21.3%
COL index
119
COL-adjusted buying power
$66,165

Destination: New York (same gross)

Gross (if unchanged)
$100,000
Net after tax
$69,428
Effective rate
30.6%
COL index
187
COL-adjusted buying power
$37,127

Methodology: Take-home is calculated using 2026 federal + state (or provincial) tax brackets at single-filer, biweekly pay with the standard deduction. Cost of living index uses US national average = 100; a COL of 150 means expenses run roughly 50% above the national average. Currency conversion between USD and CAD is NOT applied — if you're moving cross-border, multiply by your preferred FX rate.

How this tool works

A common mistake when evaluating job offers or relocation decisions is comparing gross salary numbers. A $120,000 offer in San Francisco sounds better than an $85,000 offer in Austin — until you do the math.

Moving between cities changes three things at once:

  • Federal tax doesn't change (same country, same brackets).
  • State or provincial tax changes a lot. Texas has no state income tax; California tops out near 13.3%.
  • Cost of living changes sometimes dramatically. Manhattan costs roughly 87% more than the US average; Memphis is about 14% below.

The calculator above does all three calculations for you. It computes your current after-tax income, normalizes it to a common cost-of-living baseline, then solves for the gross salary you'd need at the destination to preserve that same purchasing power.

Why "buying power" beats "raw take-home"

If you're offered $120k in SF versus $85k in Austin, the raw numbers look decisive — $120k wins by $35k. But California state tax eats ~10% of the extra, and San Francisco's cost-of-living index is roughly 175 vs Austin's 119. After adjusting for both, the Austin offer is often the better deal. The tool above will tell you exactly which by how much.

What this tool doesn't capture

COL indices are blended averages. If your spending mix is unusual — heavy housing consumer in a cheap neighborhood, frequent flier, etc. — your personal experience will vary from the index. Also, the tool doesn't model:

  • State-to-state tax reciprocity agreements (relevant for remote workers)
  • Property tax, sales tax, or other non-income taxes
  • Cross-border FX for US-Canada comparisons
  • Moving costs, break-up penalties on leases, or job-search gaps

It's a headline comparison — use it to narrow down options, then dig into specifics for the finalists.

Frequently asked questions

How is the "equivalent salary" calculated? ▾
We take your current gross salary, compute net after federal + state/provincial + FICA/CPP tax using 2026 rates, and normalize it to a common cost-of-living baseline (US national average = 100). Then we convert that baseline to the destination city's COL index and solve for the gross salary that produces that exact after-tax, after-COL buying power. The math handles progressive tax brackets properly — it's not just a linear multiplier.
Does this account for housing, groceries, and transportation separately? ▾
No — it uses a single cost-of-living composite index per city. COL indices blend housing (heavily weighted), groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare. If your personal spending mix is housing-heavy (e.g., you rent in an expensive neighborhood), the gap will feel bigger than the index suggests. If you're a heavy driver or rarely eat out, the gap may feel smaller.
What about moving costs, state tax reciprocity, and remote work situations? ▾
Not modeled here — this is the steady-state comparison after you've settled in. For remote workers living in one state and working for an employer in another, tax residency is usually determined by where you physically work. A handful of states have reciprocity agreements. Consult a CPA for complex situations.
Why don't the US-Canada comparisons convert currencies? ▾
Because USD/CAD exchange rates move daily and we don't want to give you stale numbers. All figures are in the source city's currency. If you're comparing across the border, multiply by your preferred FX rate (currently around 0.73 USD per CAD).
How accurate is the cost of living index? ▾
COL indices are directional — they're useful for relative comparisons but not precise for individual budgets. We source data from BEA (US Bureau of Economic Analysis) regional price parities and StatCan equivalents for Canada. Expect ±5% accuracy in normal cases; higher variance in very small or very expensive metros.