USA Cost of Living Calculator 2026 — Free by City
Compare monthly expenses for city living across 20 major US cities — New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, and more. Enter your city and lifestyle to estimate rent, groceries, transport, and monthly expenses for city living. No sign-up needed.
Monthly Expenses (edit to customise)
Monthly Cost of Living — Austin
vs New York City comparison
Monthly expenses for city living vary dramatically across the US. New York City and San Francisco top the cost-of-living rankings at $4,500–$5,500/month for a single person in 2026. Mid-size metros like Austin, Denver, and Nashville offer comparable urban amenities at $3,200–$3,800/month. Sun Belt cities — San Antonio, Charlotte, Houston — typically run $2,600–$3,200/month, making them popular destinations for remote workers relocating from high-cost coastal metros.
How It Works
- Select your city and lifestyle level (frugal, moderate, or comfortable)
- The calculator pre-fills 2026 cost-of-living estimates for that city based on rental data, BLS consumer expenditure surveys, and ACA premium benchmarks
- Adjust any category to match your actual spending
- See total monthly and annual costs, the salary needed to break even, and your savings vs New York City
Cost of Living by City USA — 2026 Comparison
The US has some of the widest cost-of-living disparities of any developed country. San Francisco's monthly expenses for a single renter run more than double those of San Antonio or Charlotte. While salaries also tend to be higher in coastal metros, the gap has narrowed significantly with remote work — making the financial case for relocating from San Francisco or NYC to Austin, Denver, or Charlotte stronger than ever. A remote worker earning a San Francisco salary but living in Nashville could save $15,000–$25,000 per year in living costs.
City Cost of Living Summary (Single Person, Moderate Lifestyle, 2026)
| City | 1-Bed Rent/mo | Monthly Total | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | $2,800 | $4,742 | — |
| San Francisco, CA | $3,200 | $5,090 | +$348 |
| Boston, MA | $2,800 | $4,705 | −$37 |
| Washington, DC | $2,500 | $4,370 | −$372 |
| San Diego, CA | $2,500 | $4,240 | −$502 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,400 | $4,140 | −$602 |
| Seattle, WA | $2,200 | $3,820 | −$922 |
| Miami, FL | $2,200 | $3,780 | −$962 |
| Denver, CO | $1,900 | $3,535 | −$1,207 |
| Austin, TX | $1,800 | $3,355 | −$1,387 |
| Chicago, IL | $1,700 | $3,245 | −$1,497 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,700 | $3,140 | −$1,602 |
| Portland, OR | $1,700 | $3,115 | −$1,627 |
| Atlanta, GA | $1,600 | $3,065 | −$1,677 |
| Nashville, TN | $1,700 | $3,070 | −$1,672 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,500 | $2,950 | −$1,792 |
| Charlotte, NC | $1,500 | $2,910 | −$1,832 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,400 | $2,845 | −$1,897 |
| Houston, TX | $1,300 | $2,735 | −$2,007 |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,150 | $2,550 | −$2,192 |
What the Gross Salary Needed Means
The "Gross Salary Needed" figure estimates the pre-tax salary required to cover your monthly expenses with no savings — calculated by dividing total monthly costs by ~0.65 (an approximate federal + FICA + average state tax take-home rate) and annualizing. This is a planning estimate; your actual take-home depends on your federal bracket, state income tax, 401(k) contributions, and deductions. Use our US salary calculator to calculate precise take-home pay for your situation.
Sources: Numbeo US City Cost of Living Index 2026. Zillow/Apartments.com average rental data by metro Q1 2026. BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025. Healthcare.gov ACA benchmark premium data 2026. EIA electricity and gas price averages by region 2026.
Comments