The biggest number on the offer letter can be the most misleading
When two offers land at once, it is tempting to simply pick the larger salary. But a salary is only an input; what actually changes your life is how much is left after the government and your city take their share. A role that pays more in an expensive metro can quietly leave you poorer than a smaller offer in an affordable one. This comparator strips away the headline number and shows the figure that really matters: disposable income, the money left over once tax and everyday living costs are paid.
How the comparison is built
For each offer the tool applies an indicative effective tax and social-contribution rate for the city, then subtracts a typical annual cost of living for a single person covering housing, food, transport and utilities. The remainder is your disposable income. The coloured bars make the trade-off visual: a long red block means heavy taxes, a long amber block means an expensive city, and the green block is the reward you keep. Seeing both offers side by side often overturns the instinct to chase the bigger paycheque.
What the numbers cannot tell you
Money is only one dimension of a good decision. Career growth, the strength of a team, visa sponsorship, healthcare, schooling for children, proximity to family and your own quality of life can all outweigh a modest difference in disposable income. Equally, the estimates here assume a single person and average spending, so your real numbers will shift with family size, lifestyle and the specific neighbourhood you choose. Use the result to understand the financial reality of each move, then layer your personal priorities on top.
Negotiate from a position of clarity
Knowing the disposable-income gap between two offers is also a powerful negotiating tool. If a more expensive city leaves you worse off, you can ask the employer to close the gap with a higher base, a relocation allowance or a cost-of-living adjustment. Pair this comparator with the take-home pay and cost-of-living tools to build a complete, evidence-based picture before you accept, decline or counter an offer.