Cost of Living Calculator
body {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f8f9fa;
color: #333;
line-height: 1.6;
margin: 0;
padding: 20px;
}
.calculator-container {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
background-color: #ffffff;
padding: 30px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}
h1, h2 {
color: #004a99;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.input-section, .result-section {
margin-bottom: 30px;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 6px;
background-color: #fdfdfd;
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
gap: 8px;
}
.input-group label {
font-weight: bold;
color: #004a99;
}
.input-group input[type="number"],
.input-group select {
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 1rem;
width: calc(100% – 22px); /* Adjust for padding and border */
}
.input-group input[type="number"]:focus,
.input-group select:focus {
border-color: #004a99;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(0, 74, 153, 0.2);
}
button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 12px 20px;
background-color: #004a99;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.1rem;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
margin-top: 10px;
}
button:hover {
background-color: #003366;
}
.result-display {
text-align: center;
margin-top: 20px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #e7f3ff; /* Light blue background for result */
border: 1px solid #cce0ff;
border-radius: 6px;
}
.result-display h3 {
margin-top: 0;
color: #004a99;
font-size: 1.5rem;
}
.result-display p {
font-size: 2rem;
font-weight: bold;
color: #28a745; /* Success green for the final number */
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.article-section {
margin-top: 40px;
padding: 25px;
background-color: #ffffff;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}
.article-section h2 {
color: #004a99;
text-align: left;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.article-section p, .article-section ul, .article-section li {
margin-bottom: 15px;
color: #555;
}
.article-section li {
margin-left: 20px;
}
.article-section strong {
color: #004a99;
}
/* Responsive adjustments */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
.calculator-container {
margin: 20px auto;
padding: 20px;
}
.input-group {
flex-direction: column;
}
.input-group input[type="number"],
.input-group select {
width: 100%;
}
.result-display p {
font-size: 1.75rem;
}
}
Cost of Living Comparison Calculator
Comparison Results
Enter your details above to see the comparison.
Understanding the Cost of Living Calculator
The Cost of Living Calculator is a valuable tool for understanding how your current income and expenses might translate when moving to a different city or region. It helps you make informed decisions about career changes, relocation, and financial planning by comparing the relative expense of everyday goods and services.
How the Calculation Works
The core of this calculator relies on the Cost of Living Index (COLI). The COLI is a measurement that compares the relative price of a basket of goods and services in different geographic locations. The national average is typically set at 100.
- Index Below 100: Indicates the city is cheaper than the national average.
- Index At 100: Indicates the city's cost of living is the same as the national average.
- Index Above 100: Indicates the city is more expensive than the national average.
The calculator uses the following formula to determine the equivalent salary needed in the target city to maintain a similar standard of living as in your current location, based on the provided Cost of Living Index for the target city:
Equivalent Salary = Your Current Annual Income × (Target City's COLI / 100)
For example, if your current annual income is $75,000 and the target city has a Cost of Living Index of 120 (meaning it's 20% more expensive than the national average), the calculation would be:
Equivalent Salary = $75,000 × (120 / 100) = $75,000 × 1.20 = $90,000
This suggests you would need an annual income of approximately $90,000 in the target city to afford the same lifestyle as $75,000 in a city with a COL index of 100.
Use Cases
- Relocation Planning: Assess if a new job offer in another city provides a comparable or better financial standing.
- Career Decisions: Understand the financial impact of moving for a job opportunity.
- Budgeting: Help individuals and families plan their finances when moving to a new area.
- Comparative Analysis: General curiosity about how different cities stack up in terms of affordability.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on the provided Cost of Living Index. Actual expenses can vary significantly based on individual spending habits, lifestyle choices, and specific local market conditions. It's recommended to conduct more in-depth research for specific costs like housing, transportation, and taxes in the target location.
function calculateLivingCosts() {
var currentSalaryInput = document.getElementById("currentSalary");
var costOfLivingIndexInput = document.getElementById("costOfLivingIndex");
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var currentCity = document.getElementById("currentCity").value;
var targetCity = document.getElementById("targetCity").value;
var currentSalary = parseFloat(currentSalaryInput.value);
var costOfLivingIndex = parseFloat(costOfLivingIndexInput.value);
if (isNaN(currentSalary) || currentSalary < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid current annual income.';
return;
}
if (isNaN(costOfLivingIndex) || costOfLivingIndex <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid Cost of Living Index (must be greater than 0).';
return;
}
var equivalentSalary = currentSalary * (costOfLivingIndex / 100);
var formattedSalary = equivalentSalary.toLocaleString(undefined, {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD' // Defaulting to USD, can be made dynamic if needed
});
var resultHTML = '
Equivalent Income Needed
';
resultHTML += " + formattedSalary + ";
resultHTML += 'To maintain a similar standard of living in
' + targetCity + ' compared to your current situation in
' + currentCity + '.';
resultDiv.innerHTML = resultHTML;
}