National Relocation & Purchasing Power Directory (2026)
Compare state and local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and living costs between any two U.S. metros, and see the salary that keeps your standard of living after a move.
Featured Relocation Corridors
Income tax and one-bedroom rent changes on a $100,000 salary for a single filer (2026 tax rules, HUD FY2027 rents).
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year
Highest-Rent Large Metros
Of the 25 metros with the most jobs, the 6 with the highest HUD one-bedroom rent
BLS median $74,260 · COL 180.4 · State rates up to 13.3%
BLS median $61,430 · COL 181.0 · State rates up to 10.9% + 3.88% local
BLS median $66,620 · COL 162.7 · State rates up to 9%
BLS median $55,850 · COL 144.2 · State rates up to 13.3%
BLS median $58,690 · COL 168.6 · State rates up to 13.3%
BLS median $71,060 · COL 158.9 · State rates up to 10.75%
Lowest-Rent Large Metros
Of the 25 metros with the most jobs, the 6 with the lowest HUD one-bedroom rent
BLS median $49,990 · COL 102.3 · State rates up to 4.7% + 1% local
BLS median $52,080 · COL 97.9 · Flat 4.25% state tax + 2.4% local
BLS median $49,410 · COL 107.4 · No state income tax
BLS median $59,320 · COL 115.8 · State rates up to 9.85%
BLS median $51,380 · COL 124.8 · Flat 2.5% state tax
BLS median $56,950 · COL 125.6 · No state income tax
Relocation Corridor Directory
The featured corridors plus every move from a highest-rent to a lowest-rent large metro, on a $100,000 salary for a single filer.
| Relocation Route | COL Delta | Annual Rent Delta | Income Tax Savings | On $100k | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJAustin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | -30.6% | -$14,388/yr | +$8,301/yr | On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CAAustin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | -30.4% | -$17,676/yr | +$6,211/yr | On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-INDallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | -2.2% | -$2,928/yr | +$4,805/yr | On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CAColumbus, OH | -41.0% | -$19,884/yr | +$1,729/yr | On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CAPhoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | -13.5% | -$10,908/yr | +$4,113/yr | On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WADenver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | -13.6% | -$4,188/yr | -$3,761/yr | On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHRaleigh-Cary, NC | -16.2% | -$11,592/yr | +$1,299/yr | On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | -27.3% | -$7,296/yr | +$8,301/yr | On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CASt. Louis, MO-IL | -43.3% | -$22,788/yr | +$1,541/yr | On $100k: $1,541 less tax and $22,788 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CADetroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | -45.7% | -$22,032/yr | -$174/yr | On $100k: $174 more tax and $22,032 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CAHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | -40.5% | -$20,904/yr | +$6,211/yr | On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $20,904 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CAMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | -35.9% | -$18,912/yr | +$934/yr | On $100k: $934 less tax and $18,912 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CAPhoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | -30.9% | -$18,120/yr | +$4,113/yr | On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $18,120 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJSt. Louis, MO-IL | -43.5% | -$19,500/yr | +$3,631/yr | On $100k: $3,631 less tax and $19,500 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJDetroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | -45.9% | -$18,744/yr | +$1,916/yr | On $100k: $1,916 less tax and $18,744 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | -40.7% | -$17,616/yr | +$8,301/yr | On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $17,616 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | -36.0% | -$15,624/yr | +$3,024/yr | On $100k: $3,024 less tax and $15,624 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJPhoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | -31.1% | -$14,832/yr | +$6,203/yr | On $100k: $6,203 less tax and $14,832 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHSt. Louis, MO-IL | -37.1% | -$16,968/yr | +$110/yr | On $100k: $110 less tax and $16,968 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHDetroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | -39.8% | -$16,212/yr | -$1,605/yr | On $100k: $1,605 more tax and $16,212 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | -34.0% | -$15,084/yr | +$4,780/yr | On $100k: $4,780 less tax and $15,084 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | -28.8% | -$13,092/yr | -$497/yr | On $100k: $497 more tax and $13,092 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHPhoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | -23.3% | -$12,300/yr | +$2,683/yr | On $100k: $2,683 less tax and $12,300 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NHAustin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | -22.8% | -$11,856/yr | +$4,780/yr | On $100k: $4,780 less tax and $11,856 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CASt. Louis, MO-IL | -29.0% | -$15,576/yr | +$1,541/yr | On $100k: $1,541 less tax and $15,576 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CADetroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | -32.1% | -$14,820/yr | -$174/yr | On $100k: $174 more tax and $14,820 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CAHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | -25.5% | -$13,692/yr | +$6,211/yr | On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $13,692 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CAMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | -19.7% | -$11,700/yr | +$934/yr | On $100k: $934 less tax and $11,700 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CAAustin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | -12.9% | -$10,464/yr | +$6,211/yr | On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $10,464 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CASt. Louis, MO-IL | -39.3% | -$14,772/yr | +$1,541/yr | On $100k: $1,541 less tax and $14,772 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CADetroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | -41.9% | -$14,016/yr | -$174/yr | On $100k: $174 more tax and $14,016 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | -36.3% | -$12,888/yr | +$6,211/yr | On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $12,888 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | -31.4% | -$10,896/yr | +$934/yr | On $100k: $934 less tax and $10,896 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAPhoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | -26.0% | -$10,104/yr | +$4,113/yr | On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,104 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAAustin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | -25.5% | -$9,660/yr | +$6,211/yr | On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $9,660 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVSt. Louis, MO-IL | -35.6% | -$13,200/yr | +$862/yr | On $100k: $862 less tax and $13,200 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVDetroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | -38.4% | -$12,444/yr | -$853/yr | On $100k: $853 more tax and $12,444 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | -32.4% | -$11,316/yr | +$5,532/yr | On $100k: $5,532 less tax and $11,316 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | -27.2% | -$9,324/yr | +$255/yr | On $100k: $255 less tax and $9,324 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVPhoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | -21.5% | -$8,532/yr | +$3,434/yr | On $100k: $3,434 less tax and $8,532 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVAustin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | -21.0% | -$8,088/yr | +$5,532/yr | On $100k: $5,532 less tax and $8,088 less 1BR rent a year | Analyze |
Relocation & Purchasing Power Parity Methodology & FAQs
How the figures are calculated, answered with this directory's data.
How does MetroBasis calculate an equivalent salary?
Which states have no income tax on wages?
How much does rent differ between large metros?
Which relocation saves the most on tax and rent?
What share of the median wage does rent take?
Explore Connected MetroBasis Intelligence Engines
Model compensation, tax shields, and cost parity across all stages of your career transition.
Compare moving between any two of 657 U.S. metros: 2026 state and local income tax, HUD FY2027 rents, and the salary that keeps your living standard.
Quick answers
It multiplies your salary by the ratio of the destination's living-cost index to the origin's, using the EPI Family Budget Calculator (U.S. average = 100). Federal, state and local income tax and FICA are then calculated for each metro under 2026 rules for a single filer, and rent is HUD's FY2027 one-bedroom Fair Market Rent.
9 states have no income tax on wages in the 2026 schedules MetroBasis uses: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. The highest top rate is California's 13.3%, so the same salary can owe very different state tax depending on where you live.