About
Salary vs Life is a free set of calculators and guides that answer one question: what is your salary really worth in the city where you live?
It started with a common problem. You get a job offer in another city. You want to know if it is really a raise. Most answers online are vague, like “it is more expensive there.” Others hide the result behind an email signup.
So we built the tool we wanted. You enter a salary. We apply the real tax rules and an estimate of local costs. Then we show what is left at the end of the month. There is no signup, no email wall and no paid tier.
What we cover
We cover 78 US cities in 39 states and the District of Columbia. For each city we model:
- Federal income tax, using the 2026 IRS brackets and standard deduction
- Social Security and Medicare (FICA)
- State income tax, using each state’s own bracket structure
- Local income tax in the sixteen cities in our data that charge one
- Typical costs for housing, groceries, transport, healthcare, utilities and childcare
The result is one number: disposable income, or what is left after taxes and everyday costs. We think that is the salary figure that matters most.
Our tools
Every tool uses the same tax engine and cost model, so the answers agree with each other:
- Salary vs Cost of Living Calculator — compare a salary between two cities
- Job Offer Comparison Calculator — see which of two offers pays more after costs
- Remote Work Salary Calculator — test a remote pay cut
- Disposable Income Calculator — what you keep in one city
- Family Cost of Living Calculator and Retirement Cost of Living Calculator
- Salary Guide by Profession and the Salary Negotiation Letter Generator
Who is behind it
The site is built and run by a small independent team, the Salary vs Life Team. We are not a bank, an employer or a financial adviser, and no company pays us to rank cities. You can read how we research, write and check our content on the Editorial Team page.
Where we are confident, and where we are not
We would rather tell you the limits now than have you find them later.
The tax math is solid. Brackets, standard deductions and wage bases are published rules, and we apply them directly. For a simple W-2 job, the take-home figure should be close to your real paycheck.
The cost side is a model. It describes a typical household of the size and lifestyle you pick. It is not a survey of apartments on your street. It does not know about your rent-controlled lease or your paid-off car. Use the Fine-tune panel to switch off costs that do not apply to you.
We do not model everything. Stock grants, bonuses, 401(k) matching, itemized deductions and tax credits are outside what the tools calculate. Our methodology page lists every source and every limit.
How the site is paid for
Advertising. That is the whole business model, and it is why the tools are free. We do not sell your data. The calculators run in your browser, so the salary figures you type never reach our servers. The privacy policy explains how ads and cookies work here.
What this is not
It is not financial, tax or legal advice. These are estimates to help you think through a decision. For anything with real consequences, such as a move, a retirement or a tax filing, talk to a qualified professional. See our full disclaimer.
Corrections
If you think a number is wrong, tell us. Tax rates change and cities get more or less expensive. We would rather fix an error than defend it. Email info@salaryvslifecalc.com with what you found, and we will check it.