Job offer comparison calculator
$95,000 in Austin or $110,000 in Denver? Enter two offers to see which one actually leaves you more after taxes, rent and local prices.
How it works
- Taxes: each salary runs through 2026 federal, state and (optionally) city income tax for that city’s state.
- Rent: we subtract HUD’s fair market rent for the housing size you choose.
- Prices: what’s left is divided by the BEA price level, so both offers are measured in the same U.S.-average dollars.
Real examples: bigger salary vs. cheaper city
A higher salary in an expensive city often loses once taxes, rent and prices are counted. Here is what each pair of offers leaves after 2026 taxes and a one-bedroom rent, measured in U.S.-average dollars (single filer):
| Offer A | Offer B | A: real money left | B: real money left | Better offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $130,000 · San Francisco, CA | $100,000 · Austin, TX | $51,145 | $61,628 | Austin, TX (+$10,483) |
| $120,000 · New York, NY | $95,000 · Charlotte, NC | $52,126 | $56,750 | Charlotte, NC (+$4,624) |
| $110,000 · Seattle, WA | $90,000 · Phoenix, AZ | $55,745 | $49,467 | Seattle, WA (+$6,278) |
| $105,000 · Boston, MA | $85,000 · Raleigh, NC | $46,511 | $47,468 | Raleigh, NC (+$957) |
| $105,000 · Los Angeles, CA | $88,000 · Dallas, TX | $43,021 | $50,156 | Dallas, TX (+$7,135) |
| $95,000 · Chicago, IL | $80,000 · Indianapolis, IN | $50,868 | $50,029 | Chicago, IL (+$839) |
| $100,000 · Denver, CO | $90,000 · Salt Lake City, UT | $51,465 | $51,502 | Salt Lake City, UT (+$37) |
| $90,000 · Miami, FL | $80,000 · Atlanta, GA | $42,785 | $41,805 | Miami, FL (+$980) |
For example, $130,000 in San Francisco, CA leaves $59,131 after tax and rent, while $100,000 in Austin, TX leaves $60,436. To match the San Francisco, CA offer, a Austin, TX job would need to pay about $85,500.
What else to compare besides salary
- Retirement match. A 4% 401(k) match on a $100,000 salary is $4,000 a year of extra pay — and it is not taxed until you withdraw it.
- Health insurance. Employee premiums for family coverage can differ by several thousand dollars a year between employers. Enter yours under "Health/HSA" in our paycheck calculator.
- Bonus and equity. Count only the part you are likely to receive; bonuses are taxed like regular wages.
- Remote work and commuting. A daily commute can easily cost $3,000–$6,000 a year in fuel, parking or transit.
- Paid time off. Five extra vacation days on a $100,000 salary are worth roughly $1,923.
- Moving costs. One-time relocation costs are not deductible for most workers; a relocation package can tip a close decision.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare job offers in different cities?
Compare what each offer leaves you after taxes and housing, adjusted for local prices — not the headline salary. A higher salary in a high-tax, high-rent city can leave less real spending money than a lower one elsewhere.
Which taxes does this include?
2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, state income tax for each city’s state, California SDI, and resident city income taxes in New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, Ohio cities, Kansas City, St. Louis, Baltimore and others when you tick “I’d live inside the main city”.
Where does the rent data come from?
HUD Fair Market Rents for fiscal year 2026, averaged across each metro area’s counties by population. Local price levels come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities.