Cost of Living Comparison -- 2026
Compare cost of living between US cities with detailed breakdowns of housing, groceries, transportation, and utilities. Each comparison includes salary adjustment tables and visual charts to help you understand the real financial impact of relocating.
50
City Comparisons
5
Cost Categories
4
Salary Levels
2026
Data Year
Popular Comparisons
11 comparisons
New York vs Los Angeles
New York
187
Los Angeles
146
Los Angeles is 22% cheaper
New York vs Chicago
New York
187
Chicago
118
Chicago is 37% cheaper
New York vs Miami
New York
187
Miami
132
Miami is 29% cheaper
San Francisco vs Seattle
San Francisco
179
Seattle
145
Seattle is 19% cheaper
San Francisco vs Los Angeles
San Francisco
179
Los Angeles
146
Los Angeles is 18% cheaper
San Francisco vs Austin
San Francisco
179
Austin
123
Austin is 31% cheaper
Los Angeles vs San Diego
Los Angeles
146
San Diego
142
San Diego is 3% cheaper
Los Angeles vs Phoenix
Los Angeles
146
Phoenix
107
Phoenix is 27% cheaper
Boston vs New York
Boston
148
New York
187
Boston is 21% cheaper
San Diego vs Los Angeles
San Diego
142
Los Angeles
146
San Diego is 3% cheaper
Sacramento vs San Francisco
Sacramento
121
San Francisco
179
Sacramento is 32% cheaper
Texas Cities
12 comparisons
Austin vs Denver
Austin
123
Denver
127
Austin is 3% cheaper
Austin vs Dallas
Austin
123
Dallas
112
Dallas is 9% cheaper
Austin vs Houston
Austin
123
Houston
104
Houston is 15% cheaper
Austin vs San Antonio
Austin
123
San Antonio
103
San Antonio is 16% cheaper
Nashville vs Austin
Nashville
121
Austin
123
Nashville is 2% cheaper
Dallas vs Houston
Dallas
112
Houston
104
Houston is 7% cheaper
Dallas vs Austin
Dallas
112
Austin
123
Dallas is 9% cheaper
Atlanta vs Dallas
Atlanta
111
Dallas
112
Atlanta is 1% cheaper
San Antonio vs Houston
San Antonio
103
Houston
104
San Antonio is 1% cheaper
Houston vs Phoenix
Houston
104
Phoenix
107
Houston is 3% cheaper
Dallas vs Phoenix
Dallas
112
Phoenix
107
Phoenix is 4% cheaper
Portland vs Austin
Portland
128
Austin
123
Austin is 4% cheaper
Florida Cities
4 comparisons
West Coast
3 comparisons
Southeast
8 comparisons
Nashville vs Charlotte
Nashville
121
Charlotte
115
Charlotte is 5% cheaper
Nashville vs Atlanta
Nashville
121
Atlanta
111
Atlanta is 8% cheaper
Atlanta vs Charlotte
Atlanta
111
Charlotte
115
Atlanta is 3% cheaper
Raleigh vs Charlotte
Raleigh
115
Charlotte
115
Same overall cost
Charlotte vs Nashville
Charlotte
115
Nashville
121
Charlotte is 5% cheaper
Chicago vs Atlanta
Chicago
118
Atlanta
111
Atlanta is 6% cheaper
Louisville vs Nashville
Louisville
99
Nashville
121
Louisville is 18% cheaper
Raleigh vs Atlanta
Raleigh
115
Atlanta
111
Atlanta is 3% cheaper
Midwest
4 comparisons
Mountain West
4 comparisons
More Comparisons
4 comparisons
How Cost of Living Index Works
The cost of living index uses the national average as a baseline of 100. A city with an index of 120 is 20% more expensive than the national average, while a city at 85 is 15% cheaper.
Each comparison breaks down five categories: overall index, housing, groceries, transportation, and utilities. Housing typically drives the largest differences between cities, often accounting for 30-40% of a household's budget.
Our salary adjustment tables show what a given salary in one city is worth in another, helping you understand whether a job offer in a new city actually improves your purchasing power.
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