Is it worth living there?

It’s a simplified model designed for consistency and comparisons. City costs are starter assumptions and will improve over time. For decisions, use it as a “pressure test” and try cheap/average/expensive rent levels.

It’s based on the percentage of take-home income left after essentials. Higher scores generally mean more breathing room for saving and lifestyle.

These are the costs that most reliably decide whether life feels comfortable or stressful. Optional costs vary too much person-to-person for a fast comparison tool.