Job Offer Comparison Calculator
Compare two job offers side by side, adjusted for cost of living.
Open the Interactive CalculatorHow It's Calculated
Total Comp = Base Salary × (1 + Bonus %). Adjusted Value = Total Comp ÷ (Cost-of-Living Index ÷ 100), which restates each offer in "national average" dollars so a higher-paying offer in an expensive city can be compared fairly to a lower offer somewhere cheaper.
Example
Example: Offer A pays $95,000 + 10% bonus in an average-cost city (index 100) → $104,500 adjusted. Offer B pays $105,000 + 5% bonus in a city 30% more expensive (index 130) → $84,808 adjusted. Despite the higher sticker price, Offer B is actually worth about $19,700 less in real purchasing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does cost of living matter for comparing offers?
A bigger number means little if rent, groceries, and taxes eat up the difference. Adjusting both offers to the same cost-of-living baseline shows which one actually leaves you better off day to day.
What about benefits, equity, or remote flexibility?
This tool compares cash compensation only. Health insurance value, retirement matching, stock grants, and remote-work savings can meaningfully shift the real comparison and should be weighed separately.