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Interactive tool · BEA RPP

Relocation Cost Estimator

Moving to a new city? Find the salary you'd need to keep the same standard of living, powered by Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 387 metros across all 50 states.

387
Metros covered
83.6
Cheapest - Monroe
4
Price categories compared
Key Takeaway

Across the 387 metros the BEA tracks, overall RPP runs from 83.6 to 115.6, a wide enough spread that the SAME salary can go meaningfully further, or not nearly as far, depending only on where you live. Pick your two metros below for the exact figure.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, prices vary by more than 30% across U.S. metros. This estimator uses the agency's 2024 Regional Price Parities, released on February 19, 2026, to convert a salary into its equivalent purchasing power in another city, a $100,000 salary buys far more in the cheapest metros than in San Francisco. See our methodology for the calculation.

Where a salary stretches furthest

The 10 most affordable U.S. metros by overall RPP, and what a $100,000 national salary is worth in each.

What $100K buys in the 10 cheapest metros

Purchasing power of a $100,000 national-average salary

purchasing power

What this shows Monroe stretches a $100K salary furthest at $119,622, the reward for tracking the single cheapest metro in the dataset.

Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities As of 2024
#Metro areaRPP$100K buys
1Monroe83.6$119,622
2Eagle Pass83.8$119,325
3Dothan83.8$119,285
4Texarkana84.0$119,031
5Enid84.3$118,668
6Hammond84.5$118,399
7Shreveport-Bossier City84.8$117,972
8Florence-Muscle Shoals84.8$117,901
9Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux85.1$117,505
10Wildwood-The Villages85.4$117,063

"$100K buys" = purchasing power of a $100,000 national-average salary in that metro (100 ÷ local RPP × $100K). Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024.

What this means for you

How to use a relocation salary comparison before a move or job offer.

  • This calculator adjusts for local price differences using BEA Regional Price Parity data, not a guess, so the result reflects actual measured costs, not a rule-of-thumb multiplier.
  • Monroe is currently the least expensive metro tracked (RPP 83.6) if minimizing cost is the priority. See full profile
  • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont is the most expensive (RPP 115.6), the opposite end of the national range. See full profile

RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown, not a live market quote or a cost-of-living recommendation. Pair it with the actual job offer and local housing market before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the salary adjustment calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the target metro's Regional Price Parity (RPP) to your current metro's RPP. For example, if your current metro has an RPP of 90 and the target has 110, you'd need about 22% more salary to maintain the same purchasing power.

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities are indexes published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure the relative price levels of goods, services, and rents in each metro area compared to the national average (100). An RPP of 110 means prices are 10% above the national average.

Does this account for taxes?

No. This calculator estimates purchasing power differences based on cost of living (prices of goods, services, and housing). State and local income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes are not included. Consider using a tax calculator alongside this tool for a complete picture.

How current is the data?

The Regional Price Parity data comes from the most recent BEA release, covering 387 metro areas across the United States. BEA typically updates RPP data annually with a one- to two-year lag.

Can I use this for remote work salary negotiations?

Yes. If your employer adjusts pay by location, this tool shows the data-backed salary equivalent. You can point to BEA RPP data to justify your ask. See our guide on using RPP data in salary negotiations for detailed strategies.

Data sources

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities covering 387 US metro areas. This tool provides estimates for general comparison purposes only and does not account for individual spending patterns, taxes, or specific housing costs. See our methodology for details.

Download the compiled Regional Price Parities extract cited on this page: regional-price-parities.csv (CC BY 4.0). Method notes live on /methodology and /data.

Every figure on PlainCost is rendered directly from BEA Regional Price Parity source data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, our changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-11. Rankings measure the published cost-of-living index only; we don't recommend where to live or rate any metro's quality of life.