Cost of Living Comparison
Compare housing costs, home values, state taxes, and sales tax between any two US ZIP codes. Data sourced from HUD Fair Market Rent, Zillow ZHVI, and Tax Foundation.
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Frequently asked questions
What factors does this comparison include?
Five housing and tax dimensions: 2-bedroom rent (HUD Fair Market Rent), median home value (Zillow ZHVI), state income tax top marginal rate, combined state + average local sales tax, and effective property tax rate. It does not include groceries, transportation, or utilities — those vary by household and are better explored on the city-level info pages.
How often is the data updated?
HUD FMR updates each October. Zillow ZHVI refreshes monthly. Tax Foundation publishes state tax updates annually each January. Our knowledge base mirrors these refreshes within a few weeks of release.
Can I compare cities instead of ZIP codes?
Not yet — this version takes ZIP codes only. Pick a representative ZIP for each city (downtown ZIP for urban comparisons, a residential ZIP for family-oriented comparisons). City-level autocomplete is on the roadmap.