Income & Salary Comparison Tool
Compare your income across cities, calculate your percentile ranking, and see how cost of living affects your purchasing power
Three powerful tools in one: Income comparison by city + Salary percentile calculator + Cost of living analyzer
🚀 Start Comparing NowThree Essential Income Tools in One Place
Income Comparison by City
See how your income ranks across 20 major US metropolitan areas with real Census data
- ✓ Compare median incomes by city
- ✓ See population-adjusted rankings
- ✓ View how many people you out-earn
Salary Percentile Calculator
Find out if you're in the top 1%, 10%, or 25% of earners in your city
- ✓ Calculate exact percentile ranking
- ✓ See national and city-specific ranks
- ✓ Compare to income thresholds
Cost of Living Impact
See how far your salary actually goes with purchasing power adjustments
- ✓ Adjust for cost of living differences
- ✓ Compare real purchasing power
- ✓ Find the best value cities
Why Location Matters for Your Salary
🎯 Same Salary, Different Rank
$100,000 in San Jose puts you at the 40th percentile (below median!), but in Tampa, the same income puts you at the 75th percentile (top 25%).
Your income percentile varies dramatically by city based on local income distribution.
💸 Cost of Living Impact
A $100k salary in San Francisco (COL 186) has the purchasing power of just $53,760. In Houston (COL 99), that same $100k feels like $101,010!
High salary doesn't always mean wealth if you live in an expensive city.
🏆 Highest Income Cities
- San Jose: $153,532 median (tech hub)
- San Francisco: $133,437 median
- Washington DC: $117,530 median
But remember: high COL means less purchasing power!
💎 Best Value Cities
- Houston: $78k median, 99 COL (below avg!)
- Atlanta: $77k median, 99 COL
- Phoenix: $82k median, 108 COL
Lower COL = your dollar goes further!
Median Household Income by City (2024)
| Rank | City | Median Income | Cost of Living | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $153,532 | 176 | 2.0M |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $133,437 | 186 | 4.7M |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $117,530 | 152 | 6.4M |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $108,601 | 148 | 4.9M |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $105,391 | 145 | 4.0M |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $103,009 | 146 | 3.3M |
| 7 | New York, NY | $102,760 | 168 | 19.4M |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $97,392 | 119 | 3.0M |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $94,923 | 119 | 2.5M |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $94,640 | 151 | 13.2M |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $93,094 | 134 | 2.5M |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $87,569 | 116 | 9.5M |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $87,068 | 120 | 6.2M |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,286 | 108 | 4.8M |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $78,084 | 99 | 7.1M |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $77,772 | 102 | 7.8M |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $77,662 | 99 | 6.1M |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $73,463 | 119 | 6.2M |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $72,982 | 92 | 4.3M |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $71,693 | 103 | 3.3M |
National median household income: $78,171 | Data: US Census Bureau (2024)
Most vs. Least Expensive Cities
🔥 Most Expensive
1. San Francisco, CA
Median: $133,437
186
COL Index
2. San Jose, CA
Median: $153,532
176
COL Index
3. New York, NY
Median: $102,760
168
COL Index
💰 Most Affordable
1. Detroit, MI
Median: $72,982
92
COL Index
2. Houston, TX
Median: $78,084
99
COL Index
3. Atlanta, GA
Median: $77,662
99
COL Index
What Income Puts You in Each Percentile?
(Based on US national data - varies significantly by city)
Top 1%
99th Percentile
$500k+
per year
Top 5%
95th Percentile
$250k+
per year
Top 10%
90th Percentile
$175k+
per year
Top 25%
75th Percentile
$122k+
per year
Median
50th Percentile
$78k
per year
How the Tool Works
1. Enter Income
Input your annual household income
2. See Rankings
View your percentile in 20 cities
3. Compare Power
See purchasing power by city
4. Make Decisions
Use insights for career moves
Ready to Compare Your Income?
See your percentile ranking, purchasing power, and city comparisons in seconds. 100% free, no signup required.
🚀 Start Your Income AnalysisFrequently Asked Questions
What is a salary percentile?
A salary percentile tells you what percentage of people earn less than you. For example, the 75th percentile means you earn more than 75% of households. The 90th percentile puts you in the top 10% of earners.
How is cost of living calculated?
Cost of living index compares prices across cities, with 100 being the national average. A score of 150 means things cost 50% more than average. Factors include housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.
Why does the same income rank differently in different cities?
Cities have different income distributions based on their economies and industries. Tech hubs like San Francisco have higher median incomes, so you need more to reach the same percentile. Additionally, cost of living affects real purchasing power significantly.
What salary do I need to maintain my lifestyle in a different city?
Use this formula: New Salary = Current Salary × (New City COL / Current City COL). For example, if you make $100k in Houston (COL 99) and move to San Francisco (COL 186), you'd need $187,879 to maintain the same purchasing power.
Is the data accurate and up-to-date?
Yes! Our tool uses real data from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024), the most comprehensive source for income statistics. Percentiles are calculated using established statistical methods that match actual income distributions.