Moving cities? Enter your current salary and cost indices to see exactly what salary you need in the new city to maintain the same purchasing power — accounting for rent and state tax.
The cost of living index compares the overall price level of goods and services in one city vs. another. NYC = ~187, San Francisco = ~194, Chicago = ~107, Austin = ~120, Raleigh = ~95 (using 100 as national average). A move from Chicago to NYC earning the same salary means a ~75% higher cost of living — you would need roughly $149,000 in NYC to live like you do on $85,000 in Chicago.