Should I Move to Another City?
A bigger salary doesn't mean much if rent eats the raise. Compare real disposable income between cities, not just the offer letter.
Fill in the fields above to see your answer.
If housing in the new city costs more or less
Housing is usually the biggest swing factor — here's where the trade-off flips:
| New monthly housing | Net annual gain | Verdict |
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How this calculator works
We calculate disposable income for each city: salary minus housing and other living costs for the year (and minus any extra tax burden, if the new city's rate is different). The gap between the two is your real annual gain or loss from the move — the number that actually reflects what changes in your bank account, not just what changes on your offer letter.
A 30% raise can still leave you worse off if rent more than doubles, which is exactly why we show disposable income side by side instead of just comparing salaries. If the move is a net gain, we also show how many months it takes for that gain to cover your one-time moving costs.
What this doesn't account for
- Being near family and friends — hard to price, often the deciding factor regardless of the math.
- How dense the new city is with career opportunities in your field, beyond this one offer.
- Climate and culture fit — the kind of place you actually want to live day to day.
- Whether home prices (if you'd buy) are likely to rise faster in one city than the other.
- Remote work flexibility, which can make "which city" a much smaller decision than it seems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is cost of living factored in?
You enter a cost-of-living adjustment percentage for the new city relative to your current one. If the new city costs 20% more to live in, entering 20% scales the equivalent salary needed to maintain your current lifestyle. We compare that adjusted figure against your new salary to show the real financial impact of the move.
What one-time moving costs should I include?
Include: moving truck or shipping costs, security deposit or first/last month's rent in the new city, any overlap in rent during the transition, and travel costs for the move itself. For a long-distance move, professional movers, storage, and temporary accommodation can add up to several thousand dollars.
Does the calculator account for state income tax differences?
Not directly. If you're moving between states with different tax rates, adjust your expected take-home salary for the new city to reflect the actual after-tax income. States with no income tax (like Texas or Florida) can make a nominal salary raise worth considerably more in practice.
How is the break-even period calculated?
The break-even is how long it takes for the annual financial gain from the move (the salary advantage minus extra living costs) to offset the one-time moving costs. If the net annual gain is $5,000 and moving costs $15,000, it takes 3 years to break even.