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INCOME → COSTS → MONEY LEFT
Salary & Living Cost Comparison Calculator
A higher salary is only part of the picture. Put two monthly budgets side by side and see which leaves more room to save.
Enter every cost, including an explicit 0 where none applies. Estimates are fine if you label the plan accordingly.
Calculations run in your browser. Saving is optional and stays in this browser; your budget amounts are not sent to analytics.
Enter two budgets, or load the clearly labelled example, then compare.
Why a pay rise can leave you with less
Hypothetical monthly budgets in the same currency. These are not average salaries, city costs or job offers.
| Current plan / Alternative plan | Plan A | Plan B |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly take-home | $3,000 | $3,500 |
| Monthly housing cost | $1,000 | $1,600 |
| Other monthly living costs | $800 | $800 |
| Monthly transport cost | $200 | $200 |
| Irregular costs per year | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Total monthly costs | $2,100 | $2,700 |
| Left each month | $900 | $800 |
Plan B pays 500 more but costs 600 more in housing. It leaves 100 less each month, or 1,200 less over a year. Plan B needs 3,600 take-home to match Plan A, if costs stay fixed.
How this comparison works
Monthly costs = housing + other living costs + transport + annual irregular costs ÷ 12. Money left = monthly take-home − monthly costs. For different currencies, plan B amounts are multiplied by your rate into plan A’s currency. We round only for display.
What to verify yourself
Use the same household size and expense coverage for both plans. Moving costs, deposits, benefits, debt, tax residence and social insurance can change the decision. Include what you know in your costs; missing or uncertain costs require further research. This is a budget comparison, not a purchasing-power index or a tax calculation.
Where to get your inputs
Use your payslip or a written offer for income, rental quotes for housing, and recent bills for expenses. Statutory minimum wages are gross floors with local eligibility rules; they do not tell you take-home pay or what a city costs.
EconoPi · Calculation and worked example reviewed September 27, 2026.