How is the cost of living index calculated?

Each city has an index relative to New York = 100. A higher index means a more expensive city.

What is an equivalent salary?

It is the salary you would need in another city to keep the same standard of living, based on the cost-of-living index.

Cost of Living & Salary Comparison

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Cost of living & salary

Compare cost of living between cities and see the salary you'd need to keep the same standard of living.

Salary

Your salary (annual, gross)

From (current city)

To (target city)

Equivalent salary to keep the same standard of living in 🇩🇪 Berlin

46,800USD22% lower

Living in Berlin is 22% less expensive than New York. You'd need about 46,800 USD there to match your current lifestyle of 60,000 USD in New York.

Cost-of-living index (New York = 100)

🇺🇸 New York100

🇩🇪 Berlin78

What things cost (approx. USD)

Reference prices from Numbeo (New York, September 2026), adjusted per city — a real-world feel for the difference.

🏠1-bedroom flat, city centre (monthly)

🇺🇸 New York

$4,500

🇩🇪 Berlin

$1,750 61% ↓

🚇Monthly public transport pass

🇺🇸 New York

$140

🇩🇪 Berlin

$75 46% ↓

🛒Basic groceries basketMilk, bread, eggs, chicken, rice, apples

🇺🇸 New York

$24

🇩🇪 Berlin

$21 15% ↓

🍽️Dinner for two, mid-range restaurant

🇺🇸 New York

$140

🇩🇪 Berlin

$104 26% ↓

🍔Big Mac

🇺🇸 New York

$6.20

🇩🇪 Berlin

$5.41 13% ↓

☕Cappuccino in a café

🇺🇸 New York

$6.36

🇩🇪 Berlin

$5.09 20% ↓

🍺Draft beer out (pint)

🇺🇸 New York

$8.00

🇩🇪 Berlin

$6.24 22% ↓

🚕Taxi ride, 5 km

🇺🇸 New York

$14.00

🇩🇪 Berlin

$11.06 21% ↓

🎬Cinema ticket

🇺🇸 New York

$23

🇩🇪 Berlin

$17.94 22% ↓

💪Gym membership (monthly)

🇺🇸 New York

$126

🇩🇪 Berlin

$96 24% ↓

Indices and prices are approximate and meant as a guide. Reference prices follow Numbeo's New York figures (September 2026); rent and public transport use per-city figures, while the other items are estimated from each city's index. Actual costs vary by lifestyle, neighbourhood and exchange rates.

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Cost of living & salary

Cost-of-living index (New York = 100)

What things cost (approx. USD)

Convert everything — units, currency, dates, height and many more handy tools.