Compare offers in real terms
A higher salary in a more expensive city can leave you worse off. Convert both offers to net pay, then subtract local housing, transport and living costs. The remaining disposable income is the number that affects your quality of life.
Find your target income
Work backwards from the life you want: the housing standard, the commute and the savings rate. The salary you need in each city follows from its costs. Reverse calculators make that quick to estimate.
Plan the move carefully
Moving for work adds one-off costs: deposits, travel, shipping and temporary accommodation. Budget the trip and the relocation together so the first months in a new city are not a financial shock.
