SmartCost Lab

Cost of Living Comparison Calculator

Price your current lifestyle in a new city, state, province or country — category by category, even across currencies — and see the take-home pay you'd need there to stay just as comfortable.

Last reviewed 16 October 2026 · How we build and check calculators

Monthly costs: where you live now (A) vs the new place (B)private

Example rows with made-up amounts. Price the same lifestyle in both places: similar home, same car, same habits. Use listings, utility and transit websites, and supermarket prices for B.

$

Optional — used to estimate the take-home pay you'd need in B.

Moving to another country?

Leave blank if both places use the same currency. Otherwise enter today's exchange rate from your bank or central bank (e.g. 1 GBP = x CAD), and enter B's costs in B's currency.

Living in B costs more for the same lifestyle

+18.6%

$565 per month more

Monthly costs now (A)
$3,030
Monthly costs in B
$3,595
Difference per year
$6,780

Compares the costs you enter; it doesn't include income tax differences, which can matter more than prices when you move between states, provinces or countries.

Monthly difference by category (B minus A, in your currency)
Show data table
Rent or mortgage$600
Energy & water-$20
Groceries$60
Transport-$150
Insurance$20
Phone & internet$5
Eating out & leisure$50

Why compare your own costs instead of an index?

Cost-of-living indices are averages: they tell you that one area is, say, 15% more expensive overall, but they can't know that you'd swap a car for a transit pass, or that childcare is your biggest cost. Pricing your own budget in both places gives an answer that fits your life. The trade-off is effort — so the calculator starts with common categories you can edit, delete or extend.

How the comparison works

B in your currency = B amount ÷ exchange rate difference % = total B (converted) ÷ total A − 1 pay needed in B (same money left over) = (pay now − total A + total B converted) × exchange rate pay needed in B (same proportions) = pay now × total B ÷ total A × exchange rate

The two income figures answer slightly different questions. Same money left over keeps your surplus after these costs unchanged — the right answer if the categories cover almost everything you spend. Same proportions scales your whole pay by the cost ratio, which is more cautious when your list leaves out a lot of spending that may also be pricier in B.

Moving between countries

Enter B's costs in B's currency and today's exchange rate (units of B's currency per one unit of yours). We don't pre-fill exchange rates — use your bank's rate or a central bank's published reference rate. Remember that taxes, healthcare, pensions and social security differ hugely between countries; those differences often matter more than prices, so compare take-home pay, not salary.

Tips for getting realistic numbers for the new place

  • Housing: look at current listings for the size and area you'd actually choose, not averages.
  • Energy: check the local supplier or regulator's published rates, then use our Electricity Cost calculator.
  • Transport: if you'd change how you get around, price the new way — our Commute Cost calculator helps.
  • Food: compare a typical basket on supermarket websites in both places.

Sources

Results are estimates based on the figures you enter and the stated assumptions. They are not financial, tax, legal or engineering advice. Spotted a problem? Tell us.