How High Cost Of Living Impacts Professionals’ Career Decisions

cost-of-living-totals

People often move to new cities or states in search of better jobs or new business opportunities. Aside from the hassle of packing up your things and finding somewhere to live, there is another significant thing to consider when moving to a new place: costs of living. When considering a company in a new city, it is important to take this into account. This metric will affect everything including salaries, pricing and taxes. That means, the Jenny Craig franchise will range in cost depending on your location.  For your convenience, we have developed a complete guide to the cost of living so that you can make better decisions when you consider getting hired in a new company. Take a look at the information below to see how it can affect your lifestyle.

What Is Cost Of Living?

Cost of living is the calculation of the amount of money needed to sustain a certain level of living. This includes the basic expenses of food, health care and taxes. The cost of living varies from place to place because those types of living expenses vary. So, even if you run an Ecommerce business, it will cost much more to rent an apartment in New York City than it will somewhere in Nebraska.

Cost Of Living In Relation To Wages

$65,000 per year. That is the average cost of living for a family of 4 living in the United States. This figure, of course, does not account for leisure, recreation or entertainment costs. However, the federal minimum wage is nowhere near enough to meet that cost of living thanks to so-called strategic cost cutting. This has lead to a debate over the U.S. federal minimum wage. Some state minimum wages may be better suited to help you afford the cost of living. Be sure to factor this in when considering a new position.

Why Is It Important?

Cost of living is important to consider when moving from one place to another because it is possible that you will need more money to maintain your lifestyle. For example, if you live in Nebraska and earn $40,000 per year and you get offered a job in New York that will pay $45,000 per year, the cost off living essentially negates your increased salary. You will need to pay much more in New York to have the same lifestyle that you did in Nebraska, making that extra $5,000 less useful than you would expect. This, of course, would impact your motivation factors for taking a particular job. Therefore, you should always consider the difference in salary and compare it to the difference in the cost of living when moving for work.

What Is A Cost Of Living Index?

The cost of living index is a catalogue that compares the cost of living in all major cities to a corresponding metropolitan area. This is similar to the allocation definition. The index takes into consideration the basic living expenses mentioned above as well as other expenses such as transportation. The cost of living index provides a good general overview for living expenses throughout the United States, while a cost of living calculator can help determine your exact salary requirements for specific areas.

How Can I Determine My Cost Of Living?

There are lots of resources available to give you a general idea of the cost of living for your area. If you are planning to move for a new job, it is a good idea to check one out and prepare yourself for any extra expenses you may face. This is exactly why companies look for the best state to incorporate. Some of the best cost of living calculators can be found on NerdWallet, CNN, Bankrate and PayScale. You will be asked to enter your current city and salary. Then it will determine the approximate salary you will need to receive in a new area to maintain your current lifestyle expenses.

The cost of living is something that every individual should take into consideration. If you are offered a new job that requires you to move, determine your required cost of living salary in order to make sure that it is the best choice for you.

Image from https://www.aei.org/publication/adjust-regional-cost-living/

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