Tools · Cost-of-Living Adjuster
What is this offer actually worth where I'd live?
Type a salary, pick the market it's quoted in, then pick the market you'd actually move to. We compare cost of living and state + city tax burden side-by-side so you see purchasing-power equivalence and post-tax take-home - not just headline salary.
Equivalent purchasing power
$199,144
$245,000 in New York needs to be $199,144 in Washington DC to maintain the same standard of living. Washington DC is 19% cheaper overall.
Tax stack in New York
$245,000 grossbecomes $155,817 take-home (63.6%)
Federal income tax (progressive)
$51,287 (20.9%)
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)
$15,180 (6.2%)
State income tax
$13,926 (5.7%)
City / local income tax
$8,790 (3.6%)
Take-home
$155,817 (63.6%)
Each bar is scaled to your gross. The colored segments inside show how the progressive system taxes each tranche of your income at a different rate. Hover any segment for the bracket detail. 2026 single filer, before deductions beyond the standard.
Tax stack in Washington DC
$245,000 grossbecomes $156,108 take-home (63.7%)
Federal income tax (progressive)
$51,287 (20.9%)
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)
$15,180 (6.2%)
State income tax
$22,425 (9.2%)
Take-home
$156,108 (63.7%)
Each bar is scaled to your gross. The colored segments inside show how the progressive system taxes each tranche of your income at a different rate. Hover any segment for the bracket detail. 2026 single filer, before deductions beyond the standard.
Take-home - quoted market
$155,817
New York · after federal + state + city tax (single filer, est.)
Take-home - moving market
$156,108
Washington DC · after federal + state + city tax (single filer, est.)
Tax burden delta
-1.8%
Washington DC taxes 1.8% less on this income
Take-home delta
+$291
Your take-home goes up 0.2% in Washington DC
What this tool is good at
- Comparing offers across markets.NYC at $245k vs DC at $235k looks close on paper. After state + city tax and rent, it usually isn't.
- Pressure-testing a "no-tax state" pitch. Houston, Miami, Tampa, Nashville, Seattle all skip state income tax. That alone can be worth ~10% on a BigLaw salary.
- Anchoring a counter-offer. If the firm is hiring you out of NYC and asking you to relocate to LA at the same nominal, you can show what the COL gap looks like in numbers.
What this tool is NOT
- A tax filing. Federal + FICA is treated as a flat 28% effective rate at BigLaw single-filer comp. Your actual rate depends on deductions, retirement contributions, and filing status.
- A rent calculator.COL indices include housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. They don't model the specific neighborhood you'd live in.
- A career advisor.A 15% post-tax bump in Tampa doesn't make Tampa the right choice if your practice area is securities and you want to be in NYC long-term.
Methodology
Cost-of-living indices come from BLS CPI Regional data and the Council for Community and Economic Research Cost of Living Index (Q4 2025). State + city marginal tax rates are sourced from each state's Department of Revenue at the highest BigLaw bracket (~$245k single filer). The full data table and citations live on the methodology page.