Cernarus

Cost of Living Calculator

This calculator helps you estimate how much salary you would need in a different location to maintain your current standard of living. It supports both a straightforward index-ratio method and a budget-weighted method that adjusts for differences in housing, transport, food, and other expenses.

Use the inflation and timeframe fields to project forward, and include an approximate tax rate to convert nominal estimates into a gross salary requirement. Results are planning estimates, not legal or tax advice.

Updated Nov 22, 2025

Estimate the gross salary you would need in a target location to maintain your current standard of living, using cost indices and optional inflation and tax adjustments.

Inputs

Results

Updates as you type

Estimated required gross salary (target)

$90,000.00

Estimated required salary (nominal, before tax)

$72,000.00

Target / Current cost index

1.2

OutputValueUnit
Estimated required gross salary (target)$90,000.00USD
Estimated required salary (nominal, before tax)$72,000.00USD
Target / Current cost index1.2—
Primary result$90,000.00

Visualization

Methodology

The tool uses location cost indices as the primary scaler. A cost index is a relative number (baseline 100) that summarizes typical local prices across representative spending categories. Where available, use published indices from national statistics offices or reputable economic research sources.

For higher fidelity, the budget-weighted method applies category-specific multipliers to reflect that housing, food, and transport can change at different rates than the overall index. The living-wage style estimate divides scaled household spending by household size to provide a per-person annual figure.

This implementation follows software and data handling best practices drawn from NIST and ISO guidance for data integrity and system reliability, and applies engineering quality principles consistent with IEEE recommendations for numerical software. Results are estimates and should be validated against local official sources for compliance or formal decision-making.

Worked examples

If you earn 60,000 locally, your current city index is 100 and the target city is 120, with zero planning years and a 20% tax rate: cost_ratio=1.2, nominal_required=72,000, required_gross≈90,000.

If housing in the target city is much higher relative to other categories, increase the housing_multiplier and use the budget-weighted method to reflect that your housing-driven budget will require a larger salary uplift than the simple index implies.

Expert Q&A

Are these numbers exact or guaranteed?

No. Outputs are estimates based on inputs and the chosen method. Local taxes, benefits, one-time relocation costs, insurance, and non-standard compensation are not fully modeled. Use figures for planning and verify with local data.

Where should I get the cost index values?

Use official national or regional consumer price indices, city cost-of-living indices from reputable research institutions, or published salary-adjustment indices. The tool expects relative indices where 100 is a baseline.

Does the calculator account for income taxes and social contributions?

You provide an approximate combined tax rate to convert nominal required salary into a gross salary estimate. This is a simplified approach and does not replace detailed tax calculations or professional tax advice.

Can I model inflation over time?

Yes. The inflation field and years let you project a multiplier of (1 + inflation_rate)^(years). For long horizons, consider using scenario ranges because inflation rates vary.

Is this a living wage determination?

No. The living-wage style estimate is a planning metric that scales observable spending. Formal living wage determinations require detailed local cost studies and legal definitions.

Sources & citations