Cost of Living Comparison

How Cost of Living Comparison Works

Cost of living measures how expensive it is to maintain a standard of living in one city versus another. This tool uses a composite index with New York City as the baseline (index = 100). A score of 60 means that category costs roughly 60% of what it would in NYC.

Categories Explained

• Housing (35% weight): Rent, property prices, and accommodation costs — typically the largest expense.
• Food & Groceries (20%): Supermarket prices, restaurant meals, and everyday food costs.
• Transportation (15%): Public transit fares, fuel prices, ride-sharing, and car ownership.
• Utilities (10%): Electricity, gas, water, heating, and internet service.
• Healthcare (10%): Out-of-pocket medical expenses, insurance premiums, and prescription costs.
• Entertainment (10%): Dining out, cinema, gym memberships, and recreational activities.

Tips for Relocating

When comparing salaries across cities, always account for the cost of living difference. A higher nominal salary in an expensive city may offer less purchasing power than a lower salary in a more affordable location. Housing tends to be the biggest factor, so pay close attention to rent or mortgage costs in your target destination.

Data & Methodology

Our indices are based on crowdsourced price data aggregated from multiple public sources, normalized to the NYC = 100 baseline. Actual costs vary by neighbourhood, lifestyle, and exchange-rate fluctuations. Use these numbers as a directional guide rather than an exact prediction.