A remote salary comparison helps you understand what your paycheck is truly worth in different cities. Cost of living varies dramatically across the United States — a $100,000 salary in San Francisco does not stretch as far as the same salary in Austin or Raleigh. Use this calculator to see the equivalent salary you would need in each city to maintain your current standard of living.
Your Current Salary
How to Use This Remote Salary Comparison Tool
Remote work has fundamentally changed how compensation works. A salary that feels generous in one city may barely cover rent in another. This remote salary comparison calculator helps you understand what your current pay is truly worth across 20 US cities, so you can make informed decisions about where to live and how to negotiate your compensation.
Step 1: Enter Your Current Salary
Type your annual gross salary into the salary field. This should be your base salary before taxes. If you receive bonuses or equity, you can add those to your base for a more complete picture, but keep in mind this tool focuses on cost-of-living purchasing power rather than total compensation packages.
Step 2: Select Your Current City
Choose the city where you currently live from the dropdown menu. The tool uses this city's cost-of-living index as the baseline for all comparisons. If your city is not listed, pick the one that most closely matches your local cost of living.
Step 3: Review the Comparison Table
After clicking Compare Salaries, you will see a table showing every city sorted by equivalent salary from highest to lowest. Cities where your money goes further are highlighted — these are places where you would need a lower salary to maintain the same purchasing power. The difference column shows exactly how much more or less you would need in each city compared to your current situation.
Understanding Cost-of-Living Indices
The cost-of-living index uses New York City as the baseline at 100. A city with an index of 50 means that everyday expenses — housing, groceries, transportation, and utilities — cost roughly half of what they do in NYC. San Francisco at 95 is nearly as expensive as New York, while cities like Kansas City at 38 or Columbus at 40 offer dramatically lower living costs. The equivalent salary is calculated by scaling your income proportionally to these differences.
Using This for Salary Negotiations
Many remote-first companies adjust salaries based on employee location. If your employer is considering a location-based pay adjustment, this tool helps you understand the real impact. For example, if a company offers you $120,000 to work from Austin instead of $150,000 in San Francisco, you can verify whether the adjusted salary maintains equivalent purchasing power. All calculations run entirely in your browser with complete privacy — no salary data is ever stored or transmitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this remote salary comparison tool free?
Yes, this remote salary comparison calculator is completely free with no hidden fees, no signup, and no usage limits. All calculations run locally in your browser. You can compare as many salaries and cities as you like.
Is my salary data private?
Absolutely. Everything runs entirely in your web browser using client-side JavaScript. Your salary figures are never sent to any server or stored anywhere. Your compensation details remain completely private on your device.
How is the cost-of-living index calculated?
The cost-of-living index uses New York City as the baseline at 100. Each city's index reflects the relative cost of housing, food, transportation, and other essentials compared to NYC. A city with an index of 50 means living costs are roughly half of New York City's.
What does equivalent salary mean?
The equivalent salary is the amount you would need to earn in a different city to maintain the same purchasing power as your current salary in your current city. If you earn $100,000 in NYC and move to a city with half the cost of living, you would only need $50,000 to maintain the same standard of living.
Does this tool account for state income taxes?
This calculator focuses specifically on cost-of-living differences between cities. It does not factor in state or local income taxes, which can vary significantly. For a complete relocation comparison, you should also research tax implications for your specific situation.
Which cities are included in the comparison?
The tool includes 20 US cities commonly considered for remote work, ranging from expensive metros like San Francisco and New York to more affordable cities like Kansas City and Columbus. It also includes a Remote/Rural category for people living in lower-cost areas outside major cities.
How accurate are the cost-of-living numbers?
The cost-of-living indices are approximate and based on general living cost comparisons. Actual costs can vary within a city depending on neighborhood, lifestyle, and personal spending habits. Use these numbers as a starting point for your research, not as exact figures.
Can I use this for salary negotiation?
Yes, this tool is excellent for salary negotiations. If a company offers the same salary regardless of location, you can show exactly how much more purchasing power you gain or lose depending on where you live. Many remote-first companies adjust salaries based on location, and this tool helps you understand those adjustments.