About

CostTrek helps you compare the cost of living, taxes, salaries, quality of life and visas between cities and countries around the world — so you can see what a move really means before you make it. Everything is available in five languages.

How the cost index works

Our headline number is a cost-of-living index where the average US city is set to 100. A city at 60 is roughly 40% cheaper than a typical US city; a city at 150 is about 50% more expensive. The index blends housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare and everyday goods. Enter your salary on any comparison page to see the equivalent you'd need to keep the same standard of living elsewhere.

Where our data comes from

• Economy figures — GDP per capita, life expectancy and inflation — come from World Bank Open Data.
• Tax and visa summaries are compiled from national tax authorities and public sources, at a headline level.
• US cities' overall cost index is anchored to real BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US = 100, 2023).
• US metro rents use the real median gross rent from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023).
• Category breakdowns, 1-bedroom rent estimates and quality-of-life scores are compiled estimates for general guidance, refined over time. International city indices are calibrated estimates.

We work to keep figures reasonable and up to date, but they are estimates, not official statistics. Nothing here is financial, tax, legal or immigration advice — verify anything important with an official source or a qualified professional before making decisions.

Who it's for

People weighing a relocation, remote workers and digital nomads choosing a base, companies planning moves, and anyone simply curious how far their money would go somewhere else.

Who runs CostTrek

CostTrek is an independent, self-funded project founded and edited by Igor Zagorodnyi, a developer who builds data-driven reference tools. It is not affiliated with any government body, relocation agency or real-estate company — which is why the numbers and rankings are never influenced by advertisers. The site is supported by display ads and affiliate links (both clearly marked); those partnerships never change the data we show. Corrections and questions reach the editor directly at info@costtrek.com.

Get in touch

Questions, corrections or partnership ideas? See our Contact page.