Cost of living comparison calculator - 2026

Select two cities and your current salary to see what you would need to earn to live the same lifestyle

City you live in now

City you are moving to

Your current annual salary ($) Used to calculate the equivalent salary you would need in the new city

Equivalent salary needed in

City 1

City 2

Cost of living indices are estimates based on 2025-2026 data. Individual costs vary significantly based on neighborhood, lifestyle, and personal circumstances. This calculator is for general comparison purposes only.

California cost of living guide - 2026

How California compares to the national average

139

Overall cost index (100=avg)

145

Housing cost index

Above avg by ~39%

vs national average

California cost of living overview

California has a cost of living above the national average by approximately 39%. Cities with data: San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, Sacramento, CA.

California's highest cost area is San Francisco, CA and most affordable is Bakersfield, CA.

California cities in our database

Our cost of living calculator includes data for the following California cities: San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, Sacramento, CA. Select a California city in the calculator above to compare it against any other US city and find the equivalent salary you would need in each location.

How to use the California cost of living calculator

Select a California city as your starting point and any other US city as your destination. Enter your current salary and the calculator will show you the equivalent salary you would need in the other city to maintain the same standard of living. This is particularly useful when evaluating job offers in different locations or planning a relocation.

Cost of living indices sourced from C2ER (Council for Community and Economic Research) Cost of Living Index. Last verified: 2026. Cost of living data is updated quarterly.

Frequently asked questions - cost of living

How is cost of living calculated?

Cost of living is measured using an index that compares the relative cost of goods and services across cities. The national average is typically set at 100. A city with an index of 150 is 50% more expensive than average, while a city at 80 is 20% less expensive. The index covers housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, utilities, and miscellaneous expenses.

What salary do I need if I move to a more expensive city?

To maintain the same purchasing power when moving to a more expensive city, multiply your current salary by the ratio of the new city's cost of living index to your current city's index. For example, moving from a city with index 100 to one with index 130 means you need 30% more salary. Our calculator does this automatically for you.

Which US cities have the highest cost of living?

The most expensive US cities include New York City (especially Manhattan), San Francisco, San Jose, Honolulu, and Boston. These cities have very high housing costs that drive the overall index well above the national average. San Francisco and New York typically have cost of living indices 60-100% above the national average.

Which US cities have the lowest cost of living?

The most affordable major US cities include Memphis, TN, Wichita, KS, Oklahoma City, OK, Tulsa, OK, and El Paso, TX. These cities have below-average housing costs and generally lower prices across all categories. Many mid-size Southern and Midwestern cities offer strong quality of life at significantly lower costs than coastal metros.

California cost of living calculator - 2026