Cost of Living Calculator
Compare the cost of living between US cities using official BEA Regional Price Parity data.
Category Breakdown
Salary Equivalent
Cheapest vs. Most Expensive Cities
| # | Most Affordable | Index | Most Expensive | Index |
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Request a ToolHow to Use the Cost of Living Calculator
This calculator compares the cost of living between US metro areas using official data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Here is how to use it:
- Select your current city from the dropdown. This is the baseline for comparison.
- Select a comparison city. The calculator will show how much more or less expensive the second city is relative to your current city.
- Review the category breakdown. See differences in housing, goods, utilities, and other services. Housing typically shows the largest variation between cities.
- Enter your salary (optional). The calculator will show what salary you would need in the new city to maintain the same purchasing power.
The comparison uses Regional Price Parities (RPPs), which are indices where 100 equals the national average. A city with an RPP of 110 is 10% more expensive than the national average, while a city at 90 is 10% below average.
About the Cost of Living Calculator
Cost of living measures how expensive it is to maintain a certain standard of living in different locations. The biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between cities is housing: rents and home prices can vary by 100% or more between metro areas, while goods prices typically vary by less than 10%.
Why This Matters
The median monthly rent in the US reached $1,400+ in 2025, but actual rents range from under $700 in some metro areas to over $2,500 in the most expensive cities. A salary of $75,000 provides a very different lifestyle in San Francisco (RPP 126) versus St. Louis (RPP 92). Understanding these differences is essential when evaluating job offers, planning relocations, or deciding where to retire. This calculator uses official BEA Regional Price Parities, which are based on actual price surveys across all US metro areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data does this cost of living calculator use?
This calculator uses Regional Price Parities (RPPs) published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), part of the US Department of Commerce. RPPs measure price level differences across metro areas and states for goods, services, and housing. They are based on actual price data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) program and the American Community Survey (ACS). The national average is set to 100, and each metro area's index shows how its prices compare to that average.
What is the most expensive city to live in?
Among major US metro areas, San Francisco, Honolulu, New York, and Boston consistently rank as the most expensive, with overall RPPs 18-26% above the national average. Housing is the primary driver: San Francisco's housing index is nearly 90% above the national average. Hawaii's high cost reflects the additional expense of shipping goods to the islands.
What is the cheapest city to live in?
Metro areas in the South and Midwest tend to have the lowest cost of living. Cities like Little Rock, Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Memphis have overall RPPs 10-12% below the national average. Housing costs in these cities can be 30-40% below the national average, which is the biggest factor driving their lower overall cost.
How accurate is this cost of living comparison?
The BEA Regional Price Parities are among the most reliable cost-of-living measures available. They are based on official price data rather than crowdsourced estimates. However, they represent metro-area averages and may not reflect costs in specific neighborhoods. Individual spending patterns also matter: if you spend a larger share of income on housing, the difference between expensive and affordable cities will be more significant for you personally.