Comparing and calculating costs of living Salaries are
important, but they don't give the whole picture. In an
expensive city, your salary won't go as far. It's therefore
important to know the cost of living in the city where you'll
work. Say you earn a salary of $30,000. This $30,000 will go
farther in some cities than in others. This is because basic
living expenses are higher in some cities than in others. You
can compare how far your salary will go by using a cost of
living calculator . Cost of living calculators compare how far
your salary will go in different cities. Plug in your salary and
the names of the cities. The calculator will tell you which city
is most expensive! Say you've received two job offers. Both pay
a starting salary of $30,000. One is in Boise, Idaho. The other
is in Washington, DC. Which salary is worth more? A salary of
$30,000 would buy you more in Boise, Idaho, than it would in
Washington, D.C. Housing, food, and transportation all cost more
in Washington, D.C. So, your salary wou