Cost of Living Comparison
See how far your salary really goes in another country. Compare the cost of living between countries and find the equivalent salary you would need to keep the same standard of living.
Estimate only, based on national averages. Cost of living = World Bank Household Price Level Index (US = 100); equivalent salary uses World Bank PPP conversion factors (2024-2025). Real costs vary by city, lifestyle and exchange rates. Not financial advice. Read our disclaimer.
How the Cost of Living Comparison works
The tool uses two official World Bank datasets (2024–25). It compares the price level of each country using the Household Price Level Index (with the US set to 100) to tell you how much more or less expensive one country is than another, and it converts your salary using PPP (purchasing power parity) conversion factors to show the equivalent pay you would need to keep the same standard of living. Because both come from the same household basket, the figures line up consistently.
How to read your result
- Cost of living difference: how much pricier or cheaper the destination is than your home country.
- Equivalent salary: the local pay that buys the same lifestyle as your current salary.
- Your salary’s reach: how much further (or less far) your money goes in the new country.
Should you take that overseas offer?
A bigger number is not always a better deal. An offer that looks like a raise can leave you worse off once rent, tax, and daily costs are factored in — and a lower nominal salary in a cheaper country can mean a higher real standard of living. Use the equivalent salary as your benchmark when negotiating a relocation, then pair it with the Salary Calculator for take-home pay and the Job Offer Comparison tool to weigh two offers side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the data come from?
World Bank Open Data (2024–25): the Household Price Level Index and PPP conversion factors. These are national averages, so individual cities can vary.
Does it use live exchange rates?
No — it uses stable annual PPP factors rather than volatile daily exchange rates, giving a more reliable picture of real purchasing power than a simple currency converter.
Which countries are covered?
Ten: the US, UK, India, Canada, Australia, Germany, UAE, Singapore, Netherlands, and France. Select any two to compare.