Does this account for taxes?

No — the cost-of-living index measures pre-tax spending only. To convert gross pay into net pay before comparing, use our take-home pay calculator.

Why is rent weighted so heavily?

Rent typically accounts for 25–40% of household spending in major cities, more than any other single category. We follow the Numbeo / OECD weighting convention.

Cost of Living Calculator

Pick two cities and see exactly how much more (or less) you'll spend on rent, groceries, transport and eating out. All numbers indexed to New York City = 100.

FromToYour income (USD/yr)

Equivalent income required

$144,643/yr

In London, UK, this matches the lifestyle of earning $50,000 in Bangalore, IN — a +189% change.

Bangalore, IN London, UK

Rent+400%
Groceries+160%
Transport+1000%
Restaurants+317%

Frequently Asked Questions

Each city's composite index is a weighted average of rent, groceries, transport, restaurants and basic utilities, indexed to New York City = 100. Data is sourced from Numbeo, official statistics offices, and our own user-submitted price points. Updated quarterly.