All guides
Moving & relocation
Planning a move between metros and states: offers, budgets, timing and what changes.
How Much Does It Cost to Move to Another State?
A single renter on $70,000 in New York needs only $41,217 in Austin to keep the same money left over after 2026 taxes, rent and living costs.
How to Compare Job Offers in Different Cities
A $90,000 offer in New York leaves a single renter $10,492 a year after taxes and living costs; $75,000 in Austin leaves $24,665. Here is the method.
How to Negotiate Salary for a Relocation
Open with one number: the pay in the new city that leaves you the same after taxes and costs. Chicago $90,000 equals $79,726 in Nashville for a single renter.
Is Moving to a Cheaper City Worth It?
A family of four on $120,000 keeps $25,092 a year in Chicago and $44,167 in Memphis after 2026 taxes and costs — $19,075 more. How to judge if the move pays.
Most Common State-to-State Moves in the US
California to Texas is the largest state-to-state move: 77,161 people in 2024 (Census ACS). Florida drew the most movers from other states, 573,876.
Moving Checklist: First 90 Days in a New State
What to do after an interstate move, in order: license and registration deadlines, voter registration, payroll and tax setup, insurance and records.
Remote Work: Where to Live for the Best Cost of Living
On a $75,000 remote salary, a single renter keeps $33,353 a year in McAllen, TX and $1,403 in New York after 2026 taxes and living costs. Full ranking inside.
Cost of living
How prices differ across the US, measured with BEA Regional Price Parities and other official data.
Cheapest Metro Areas in the US (by Official Price Data)
Monroe, LA has the lowest BEA price level of 387 US metros (83.6 in 2024). On $75,000, McAllen, TX leaves a single renter the most after taxes: $33,353.
Cost of Living for a Family of Four in the US
A family of four on $120,000 keeps $38,211 a year in Nashville but ends $5,206 short in New York after 2026 taxes, rent, childcare and other costs.
Cost of Living for a Single Person in the US by City
A single adult on $75,000 keeps $24,665 a year in Austin and $1,403 in New York after 2026 taxes and living costs. Budgets for 8 major metros.
Cost-of-Living Index Explained: Why Taxes Matter
Price indexes leave out income tax. Portland, OR is cheaper than Seattle on BEA prices, but above about $109,000 a single earner keeps more in Seattle.
How Much Do Groceries Cost Per Month? USDA Food Plans
USDA's August 2026 food plans: $1,023.70 a month (Thrifty) to $1,678.70 (Liberal) for a family of four with children 6–8 and 9–11. Costs by household.
How Much More Expensive Is California Than Texas?
A single renter on $85,000 keeps $16,929 more a year in Dallas than in Los Angeles after 2026 taxes and costs. Dallas pay that matches LA: $61,629.
Most Expensive Metro Areas in the US (by Official Price Data)
San Francisco has the highest BEA price level of 387 US metros (115.6 in 2024). A single renter needs $75,260 there just to break even after 2026 taxes.
What Are Regional Price Parities?
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states and metros (US = 100). For 2024, San Francisco is highest at 115.6 and Monroe, LA lowest at 83.6.
Rent & housing
HUD Fair Market Rents, Census rents and home values, property taxes and the cost of owning.
Average Electric Bill by State (2025)
The average US home electric bill was $150.68 a month in 2025 (EIA). Hawaii averaged $207.89 and New Mexico $94.65. Every state's bill, use and price.
Effective Property Tax Rate by County
County property tax rates run from 0.15% to 2.93% of home value (ACS 2020–2024). See the highest, lowest and top-coded counties and the monthly cost.
How Many Bedrooms Does My Family Need?
One bedroom for the adults plus one for every two children: two adults with two kids need 2 bedrooms, with three kids 3. HUD guidance and rents.
How Much Rent Can I Afford?
On $60,000, the 30% rule allows $1,500 a month in rent. A New York one-bedroom at HUD Fair Market Rent ($2,729) needs $109,160 a year to stay under that line.
Rent vs. Buy After a Move: What the Numbers Show
In Austin, a couple on $120,000 keeps $54,419 a year renting a 2-bedroom but $37,016 owning the median home. Year-one cash flow favors renting in 5 metros.
The 30 Percent Rule for Rent: Does It Still Hold Up?
HUD counts renters as cost-burdened above 30% of income. On $100,000 that is $2,500 a month, below San Francisco's $3,003 one-bedroom Fair Market Rent.
True Cost of Owning a Home Beyond the Mortgage
Denver's median home ($603,800) costs $3,460 a month with 20% down at 6.5%: $3,053 mortgage, $257 property tax, $150 insurance. How to model all three.
What Is Fair Market Rent? HUD's FMR Explained
HUD Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile gross rent, utilities included, paid by recent movers for standard-quality units. FY2027 rents start Oct. 1, 2026.
Taxes by state
State and local income taxes, payroll taxes and sales taxes — and what they do to take-home pay.
Cities With Local Income Tax in 2026
On $75k, NYC residents pay $2,472 in city income tax, Philadelphia $2,801 and Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo $1,875 each. Which metros MoveMath taxes, and why.
Do You Pay Tax in Two States the Year You Move?
Usually yes: a part-year return in each state with an income tax. An $80k NYC renter who moves to Texas on July 1 owes about $3,140 to NY and NYC, not $6,389.
How State Income Tax Changes Your Take-Home Pay
On $60k, Oregon takes $3,978 in state income tax and Texas $0. 2026 take-home pay in 10 states at $60k, $80k and $100k, with payroll and city taxes.
Moving From a High-Tax State to a No-Tax State
A $120k family saves $3,724 a year in California tax and SDI by moving from LA to Dallas, but its full budget improves by $26,412, mostly from rent.
State Payroll Taxes: SDI and Paid Family Leave (2026)
15 states take an employee payroll tax for disability, paid leave or long-term care. On $75k: $975 in California, $1,040 in Washington, $52.50 in Pennsylvania.
State Sales Tax Rates and Grocery Taxes (2026)
California's 7.25% is the top state sales tax rate. Five states have none, and nine tax groceries, from 1% in Virginia to 6% in Idaho. All 50 states plus DC.
States With No Income Tax: Do You Really Save?
Nine states tax no wages in 2026. A single $75k earner keeps $61,593 in Houston vs $55,312 in NYC, but rent and other costs move the real gap far more.
Childcare costs
County childcare prices from the Department of Labor’s National Database of Childcare Prices.
Center-Based vs. Home-Based Childcare Cost
Denver center infant care runs $430 a week vs $223 at licensed homes (NDCP 2022), $13,145 a year apart today. Home care is cheaper in 333 of 360 metros.
Cheapest States for Childcare (NDCP Data)
Alabama's metros average $162 a week for center infant care in 2026 dollars ($8,440 a year); DC averages $599 ($31,147). Every state ranked on NDCP prices.
Child Tax Credit 2026: What Families Get
The 2026 Child Tax Credit is $2,200 per child, up to $1,700 refundable, phasing out above $200,000 ($400,000 joint). A $120k couple with two kids gets $4,400.
How Much Does Daycare Cost by County?
Center infant care costs $607 a week in San Francisco County (NDCP 2022), about $38,559 a year in 2026 dollars, against $194 in Dallas County. Every big metro.
Infant Care Cost vs. Preschool Cost
Center infant care in Boston costs 69% more than preschool, a $15,256-a-year premium (NDCP 2022, in 2026 dollars). In a typical metro the premium is 18%.
Budgeting & salary
Household budgets, salary needed to move, and planning the first year in a new place.
How Much Should I Spend on Gas and Car Costs?
Gas costs $6.23 a gallon in Los Angeles and $3.87 in Houston (EIA, Oct. 5, 2026): $2,989 vs $1,860 a year for 12,000 miles at 25 mpg. How to budget a car.
How to Calculate a Cost-of-Living Raise
Moving from NYC to Austin on $100k? You need only $63,813 in Austin — a $36k cut. MoveMath's engine computes the salary equivalence for any two US metros.
How to Make a Relocation Budget
A $120k family with a preschooler has $2,633 a month left in Chicago and $3,428 in Austin. The full budget line by line, and how to build your own.
What Is a Good Salary After Taxes?
$75k leaves $61,593 after 2026 taxes in Houston and $55,312 in New York City, and NYC rent widens the gap. Take-home in 8 metros from $50k to $200k.
What Salary Do I Need to Live in a City?
A single renter needs $72,687 to break even in NYC, $75,260 in San Francisco and $38,922 in Memphis (2026 taxes, HUD rents). 15 metros, plus savings targets.