Cost of Living Calculator

What is the cost of living index in this calculator?

A fixed number per city, with New York set to 100. London is 85, Mumbai is 36 and Zurich is 107. Your adjusted budget is your current budget multiplied by the destination index divided by the current-city index. The table is written into the tool’s code as approximate Numbeo-style indices; it is not fetched live and is not updated automatically.

How is the adjusted monthly budget worked out?

adjusted budget = monthly budget × (destination index ÷ current index). Moving from New York to London with $3,000 gives 3,000 × 85 ÷ 100 = $2,550. The same ratio is applied to the whole budget, so the result is the amount that would keep the same overall spending level at the destination’s index, not a forecast of your actual bills.

What do the rent, food and transport lines show?

They split off three slices of your current budget: 35% for rent, 20% for food and 10% for transport. Each slice is multiplied by the same ratio, and the line shows how many dollars more or less that slice becomes. The remaining 35% of the budget is not listed separately, but it is included in the adjusted total. Because one ratio is used everywhere, rent does not move differently from food, even though in real cities it often does.

Why is the percentage not the same in both directions?

Because it is a ratio. London to New York is 100 ÷ 85, which is 17.6% more expensive, while New York to London is 85 ÷ 100, which is 15.0% cheaper. Running $2,550 from London to New York returns $3,000, so the two directions are consistent; the percentages only look asymmetric.

Does it convert currencies or compare salaries and taxes?

No. All amounts are in dollars and no exchange rate is applied. Income tax, social contributions, health insurance, schooling and visa costs are not part of the index. If you plan to relocate for a job, compare the after-tax pay offered with the adjusted figure here as a starting point only.

Which cities are included, and can I add my own?

Twenty cities are built in: New York, London, Sydney, Toronto, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai, Paris, Mumbai, São Paulo, Berlin, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Chicago, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Cape Town, Zurich, Bangkok and Mexico City. You cannot add a custom city or enter your own index in this tool.

Are these indices current?

Treat them as a rough placeholder. Living costs, rents and exchange rates move over time and differ by neighbourhood and lifestyle, so the figures built into this tool can be out of date. Check a current cost-of-living source, local rental listings and your own spending before making a decision that depends on the result.