Cost of Living · Updated June 2026

After-tax salary cost of living calculator (US)

Gross-salary comparisons flatter high-tax states. This tool applies 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and state income tax first – then compares what's left against local living costs. The ranking of "where am I richest?" often reorders completely after taxes.

Example: $120,000 gross is $93,250 net in Texas but $86,087 in California (single filer, 2026) – a $7,163 annual gap before a single rent check is written.

Cost of living calculator

I live in

Comparing to

Household

My gross salary (USD/year)

Equivalent salary

–

Budget A: –
Budget B: –
Rent share of pay A: –
Rent share of pay B: –

Line-by-line, monthly

Item	A	B	Δ

Composite 2026 index incl. centre rent (NYC = 100). Salary figures are gross – taxes not included; pair with the salary after tax calculator.

Key insights

$120k nets $93,250 in TX vs $86,087 in CA (2026, single).
Net-first ordering reshuffles most "cheapest city" rankings.
Power ratio = net salary ÷ single-person budget.
No-tax states can still lose on rent; taxed states can win on housing.
Uses 2026 brackets, $16,100 standard deduction, $184,500 SS wage base.

Local purchasing power: avg net salary ÷ single-person budget (2026)
City	COL index	Single budget /mo	Avg net salary /mo	Power ratio
New York City	100	$5,759	$7,200	1.25
San Francisco	93	$4,954	$8,200	1.66
Austin	63	$2,825	$6,000	2.12
Chicago	68	$3,322	$5,800	1.75
Miami	73	$3,718	$5,200	1.40
London	79	$3,980	$4,400	1.11
Berlin	56	$2,526	$3,300	1.31
Lisbon	50	$2,126	$1,700	0.80

Net-first methodology

Step 1: gross → net using 2026 federal brackets (10–37%), the $16,100 single standard deduction, Social Security to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare, and your state's schedule. Step 2: net ÷ local single-person budget = months of lifestyle covered per year of work.

This two-step order matters: a no-income-tax state with high rents (Florida metros) can still lose to a taxed state with cheap housing (Ohio metros) once both steps run.

Reading the power ratio

The table below shows average net salary ÷ single budget per city. Ratios above ~1.6 indicate strong local savings potential; below ~1.2, most residents need above-average pay or shared housing.

Use your own numbers in the calculator: enter salary and a target city, and check the after-tax margin against the city budget rather than eyeballing gross pay.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why compare after-tax instead of gross?

Because state taxes move the answer by up to 13.3% of income, which routinely exceeds the cost-of-living gap between candidate cities. Net pay is the budget you actually live on.

Which taxes are included?

2026 federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% to $184,500), Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% over $200k), and state income tax including progressive brackets, flat rates, and no-tax states.

Are city taxes covered?

NYC local income tax is modeled explicitly. Other municipal taxes (Philadelphia wage tax, Ohio city taxes) are flagged on their state pages with typical rates.

What about sales and property tax?

They are reflected in each state's cost data rather than the paycheck math: sales tax inflates the spending side, property tax appears in the rent vs buy calculations.

Is this valid for married filers?

Yes – switch filing status in the calculator; brackets and the $32,200 married standard deduction adjust automatically.

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