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$85k in Austin beats $100k in San Francisco. Usually.
A salary is only a number until you divide it by what life costs where you earn it. This calculator converts two offers into cost-of-living-adjusted dollars so the comparison is purchasing power versus purchasing power — and shows what the weaker offer would need to pay to tie.
Job seekers with offers in different cities use it to compare purchasing power instead of headline salary. Recruiters and career offices link it to pre-answer the "but $15k more in NYC" question before the negotiation call.
A relative price level where 100 is the US average. An index of 120 means typical expenses run 20% above average; 85 means 15% below. Dividing salary by (index ÷ 100) converts any offer into equivalent national-average purchasing power, which makes cross-city offers comparable.
Adjusted gross first, take-home second. State income tax can swing the answer several thousand dollars a year — an offer in Texas (no income tax) versus one in California is not the same comparison after taxes as before. Use this for the big sort, then the paycheck calculator for the final call.
Career trajectory (some cities compound faster for your field), remote-work flexibility, state benefits, commute time, and whether you would actually enjoy living there. Use the adjusted number to negotiate from strength, not as the whole decision.