Purchasing Power Calculator: What Your Salary Is Worth by State
Find the salary that buys the same standard of living in another state, from C2ER's cost of living index for Q2 2026, and what sales tax takes from your monthly spending. Both calculations work the same in every state, so pick a state to fill in its index.
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Salary Needed There for the Same Standard of Living
Estimated • Based on your inputs
What $100 Buys There, in Your Current Prices
100.0
Detailed Breakdown
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
Sales tax impact calculator
See what sales tax adds to your monthly spending over a year and over ten years. Enter your combined rate: your state's rate plus any local rate. Each state's rate and local add-ons are on its page in the sales tax section. Sales tax rates by state
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Monthly Sales Tax Paid
Estimated • Based on your inputs
Annual Sales Tax Paid
$2,160.00
Detailed Breakdown
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
Sales tax paid is your monthly taxable spending times the combined state and local rate, times 12 for a year and 120 for ten years. Many states exempt groceries, prescription drugs or clothing, so count only the spending your state taxes.
How this calculator works
The salary needed in the state you are pricing is your salary times that state's index divided by the index where you are now; what $100 buys there is the inverse. The indexes are C2ER's composite cost of living index for Q2 2026 (groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services, 100 = average of participating places), republished by MERIC for each state. Taxes are not part of the index.
Source: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) — C2ER Cost of Living Index, Q2 2026 checked
Cost of living index by state (C2ER, Q2 2026)
C2ER composite cost of living index for Q2 2026, as republished by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. The last column is the salary needed in each state to match $75,000 at U.S.-average prices.
| State | Index (100 = average) | Matches $75,000 at average prices |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 86.0 | $64,500 |
| Alaska | 124.5 | $93,375 |
| Arizona | 108.6 | $81,450 |
| Arkansas | 89.0 | $66,750 |
| California | 140.3 | $105,225 |
| Colorado | 102.7 | $77,025 |
| Connecticut | 103.6 | $77,700 |
| Delaware | 100.6 | $75,450 |
| Florida | 100.8 | $75,600 |
| Georgia | 90.1 | $67,575 |
| Hawaii | 185.8 | $139,350 |
| Idaho | 99.4 | $74,550 |
| Illinois | 94.5 | $70,875 |
| Indiana | 89.7 | $67,275 |
| Iowa | 86.1 | $64,575 |
| Kansas | 87.1 | $65,325 |
| Kentucky | 94.0 | $70,500 |
| Louisiana | 91.3 | $68,475 |
| Maine | 112.9 | $84,675 |
| Maryland | 118.8 | $89,100 |
| Massachusetts | 148.1 | $111,075 |
| Michigan | 92.1 | $69,075 |
| Minnesota | 93.4 | $70,050 |
| Mississippi | 87.4 | $65,550 |
| Missouri | 88.2 | $66,150 |
| Montana | 106.0 | $79,500 |
| Nebraska | 90.1 | $67,575 |
| Nevada | 105.4 | $79,050 |
| New Hampshire | 108.5 | $81,375 |
| New Jersey | 119.2 | $89,400 |
| New Mexico | 90.2 | $67,650 |
| New York | 132.6 | $99,450 |
| North Carolina | 96.7 | $72,525 |
| North Dakota | 90.5 | $67,875 |
| Ohio | 93.0 | $69,750 |
| Oklahoma | 83.0 | $62,250 |
| Oregon | 110.4 | $82,800 |
| Pennsylvania | 95.3 | $71,475 |
| Rhode Island | 110.9 | $83,175 |
| South Carolina | 92.7 | $69,525 |
| South Dakota | 93.5 | $70,125 |
| Tennessee | 89.7 | $67,275 |
| Texas | 90.8 | $68,100 |
| Utah | 98.4 | $73,800 |
| Vermont | 113.4 | $85,050 |
| Virginia | 99.0 | $74,250 |
| Washington | 115.1 | $86,325 |
| West Virginia | 87.0 | $65,250 |
| Wisconsin | 95.7 | $71,775 |
| Wyoming | 94.4 | $70,800 |
State figures average the urban areas C2ER surveys in each state; rural costs are often lower. Enter your own index above for a specific place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compare a salary between two states?
Multiply the salary by the destination state's index and divide by your current state's index. With C2ER's Q2 2026 figures, $75,000 at U.S.-average prices (100) equals about $69,750 in a state with an index of 93 and $90,000 in one at 120.
Does the index include state taxes?
No. The C2ER index prices goods and services only. Use the sales tax calculator below for what sales tax adds to your spending, and the income tax calculators for the rest.