How the Cost of Living Calculator Works
The calculator multiplies your salary by the ratio of the two price levels.
Equivalent salary = Current salary × (New state price level ÷ Current state price level)
Texas has a price level of 97.1 and California 110.7, against a national average of 100. So $65,000 × 110.7 ÷ 97.1 = $74,150.24.
The move in the other direction works the same way: $65,000 in California matches $56,978.91 in Texas.
What the Price Levels Measure
A Regional Price Parity is the price of the same basket of goods and services in one state, compared with the national average. A value of 110 means prices are 10% above average; 90 means 10% below.
- Covered: goods, housing rents, and other services such as health care, transport and utilities.
- Not covered: income taxes, sales taxes as a separate item, and home purchase prices.
- Source: BEA table SARPP, 2024 values, released in February 2026. BEA updates the series once a year.
Housing rents drive most of the gap between expensive and cheap states. Goods prices differ much less from place to place.
Cost of Living by State
The table lists the price level of every state and DC, highest first, with the salary that matches $65,000 at the national average.
| State | Price level | Salary equal to $65,000 at average prices |
|---|---|---|
| California | 110.7 | $71,968 |
| Hawaii | 110.0 | $71,468.15 |
| District of Columbia | 109.9 | $71,435.65 |
| New Jersey | 108.8 | $70,723.25 |
| New York | 107.9 | $70,148.65 |
| Washington | 107.0 | $69,558.45 |
| Massachusetts | 105.8 | $68,742.05 |
| Maryland | 105.0 | $68,223.35 |
| New Hampshire | 104.2 | $67,707.25 |
| Connecticut | 103.6 | $67,346.50 |
| Florida | 103.4 | $67,219.10 |
| Oregon | 103.4 | $67,184.65 |
| Colorado | 103.1 | $66,983.80 |
| Alaska | 102.4 | $66,533.35 |
| Rhode Island | 102.3 | $66,482 |
| Virginia | 101.1 | $65,717.60 |
| Arizona | 100.7 | $65,440.05 |
| Nevada | 100.0 | $64,986.35 |
| Illinois | 100.0 | $64,972.70 |
| Delaware | 99.8 | $64,875.20 |
| Utah | 98.9 | $64,261.60 |
| Minnesota | 98.6 | $64,103.65 |
| Vermont | 98.0 | $63,672.70 |
| Pennsylvania | 97.6 | $63,421.80 |
| Texas | 97.1 | $63,087.05 |
| Maine | 97.0 | $63,082.50 |
| Georgia | 96.3 | $62,590.45 |
| Michigan | 96.2 | $62,541.05 |
| Idaho | 95.5 | $62,071.10 |
| Montana | 94.6 | $61,519.25 |
| North Carolina | 94.3 | $61,311.90 |
| Wisconsin | 94.1 | $61,161.75 |
| South Carolina | 93.7 | $60,936.85 |
| Indiana | 93.3 | $60,663.85 |
| Ohio | 92.8 | $60,303.10 |
| Wyoming | 92.7 | $60,249.15 |
| New Mexico | 92.2 | $59,937.80 |
| Tennessee | 91.9 | $59,715.50 |
| Missouri | 90.8 | $59,031.05 |
| Kentucky | 90.2 | $58,603.35 |
| Nebraska | 90.1 | $58,566.95 |
| Kansas | 90.1 | $58,544.20 |
| West Virginia | 89.5 | $58,173.05 |
| North Dakota | 89.0 | $57,823.35 |
| Alabama | 88.8 | $57,734.95 |
| South Dakota | 88.6 | $57,580.90 |
| Louisiana | 88.2 | $57,334.55 |
| Oklahoma | 87.8 | $57,097.95 |
| Iowa | 87.8 | $57,045.30 |
| Mississippi | 87.0 | $56,519.45 |
| Arkansas | 86.9 | $56,509.05 |
California is the most expensive state and Arkansas the least expensive. The spread between them is 27%.
Cost of Living Salary Comparison Examples
| Move | Current salary | Equivalent salary |
|---|---|---|
| Texas to California | $65,000 | $74,150.24 |
| California to Texas | $65,000 | $56,978.91 |
| New York to Florida | $90,000 | $86,241.42 |
| Illinois to Washington | $75,000 | $80,293.47 |
| Massachusetts to North Carolina | $100,000 | $89,191.26 |
| Ohio to Colorado | $55,000 | $61,093.19 |
A New Yorker on $90,000 who moves to Florida keeps the same standard of living on $86,241.42, before any change in state income tax.
Cost of Living and State Income Tax
Price levels leave out income tax, so a full comparison runs the two salaries through a paycheck calculator as well.
Nine states have no state income tax on wages, including Texas, Florida and Washington. A move from a high-tax state to one of them raises take-home pay even when prices are similar. A move the other way lowers it.
Run both salaries through the Gross to Net Calculator with each state's tax, then compare the take-home pay with the price levels here.
Using the Calculator for a Relocation Offer
A relocation offer is fair on prices when the new salary is at least the equivalent salary the calculator shows.
- Enter your current salary and state.
- Choose the state of the new job and read the equivalent salary.
- Compare it with the offer. A gap below the equivalent is a cut in real pay.
- Add the difference in state tax and any change in benefits.
The Job Offer Comparison Calculator sets two offers side by side after tax.
Limits of a State Comparison: Cities, Zip Codes and Other Countries
A state price level is an average across the whole state, so it hides the gap between cities.
- Cities: a large metro area usually costs more than the rural parts of the same state. BEA publishes separate price levels for metro areas.
- Zip codes: no official price index exists at zip code level.
- Other countries: BEA covers only the United States. Comparisons between countries use purchasing power parities from bodies such as the World Bank or the OECD.
- Your own spending: someone who owns a home outright feels rent differences less than a renter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cost of living calculator?
A cost of living calculator is a tool that converts a salary from one place to another so it buys the same standard of living. It uses official price levels for each place.
How much do I need to make in California to live like $65,000 in Texas?
You need $74,150.24 in California to match $65,000 in Texas, based on BEA price levels for 2024.
Which state has the highest cost of living?
California has the highest price level at 110.7, followed by Hawaii and District of Columbia.
Which state has the lowest cost of living?
Arkansas has the lowest price level at 86.9, about 13% below the national average.
Does the cost of living calculator include taxes?
No. The price levels cover goods, services and rents. State income tax is a separate difference: compare take-home pay with a paycheck calculator.
How often are the price levels updated?
BEA publishes new Regional Price Parities once a year. The calculator uses the 2024 values released in February 2026.
Can I compare cost of living between cities?
This calculator compares states. BEA also publishes price levels for metro areas, which are more precise for a move between two cities.