Townleap

Cost of Living Calculator — Compare Cities Worldwide

Pick where you live and where you're going. We'll tell you the salary you actually need — not the one recruiters pretend is generous.

$

New YorkLisbon

$34,302/yr

Lisbon is 57% cheaper — you'd need less to live the same way

0
Take-home in Lisbon: $1,897/mo

Monthly costs — side by side

Expense🇺🇸 New York🇵🇹 LisbonDiff
Rent (1BR center)$4,281$1,616-62%
Cheap meal$25$15-40%
Cappuccino$5.7$2.7-53%
Beer (draught)$8$3.5-56%
Monthly transit pass$133$47-65%
Utilities (85m²)$202$179-11%
Internet$72$37-49%
Monthly total (solo)$5,504$2,360-57%

Single person, city center, renting. Source: Numbeo.

🇵🇹 Lisbon — where your money goes

Monthly breakdown · Solo · City center

Rent(1BR)$1,616
Groceries & eating out$460
Transport$47
Utilities & phones$236
Monthly total$2,360

What locals earn vs. what you'd spend

🇺🇸 New York

$5,185/mo

average net salary

$319 short after basic expenses

🇵🇹 Lisbon

$1,614/mo

average net salary

$746 short after basic expenses

How we calculate: Monthly budget = rent (1BR center) + groceries + dining (20 meals) + transport (monthly pass) + utilities + internet. Salary equivalent = your salary × (target city cost ÷ origin city cost). Tax models cover 36 countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the cost of living calculator work?

Enter your current city, your salary, and a target city. The calculator compares real expenses — rent, groceries, transport, utilities — from both cities and tells you what salary you'd need in the new city to maintain the same standard of living. Data is sourced from Numbeo.

What expenses are included in the comparison?

Rent (1-bedroom city center), groceries (a full monthly basket), dining out, local transport, utilities (electricity, water, heating), internet, and personal care. The calculator uses real local prices, not index numbers.

Does it account for taxes?

Yes — for 38 countries we model income tax and social contributions to show take-home pay. The salary equivalent adjusts for the tax difference between your origin and destination countries.

Is this for digital nomads or permanent movers?

Permanent movers. The costs reflect settling in — renting an apartment long-term, buying groceries at local markets, using public transport. Not Airbnb prices and tourist restaurants.

How many cities can I compare?

The calculator covers 116+ cities worldwide, from Chiang Mai to Zurich. Pick any two for a side-by-side cost comparison.