What's left each month
After tax and rent. 387 US metros. Set your household and see the number.
Your best: Midland $3,494/mo
Left over each month
Hover a city. Click to open it.
Left over each month
After tax and rent- 1$3,494
- 2$3,409
- 3$3,353
- 4$3,267
- 5$3,209
- 6$3,203
Registered nurse. One adult, renting a 1-bedroom. From Chicago. $2,721/mo between Midland and Santa Maria.
Eight cities to start with
Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo source · License $1,249/mo left
$3,018 rent
Ron Reiring. CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo source · License $1,703/mo left
$2,273 rent
Diego Delso. CC BY-SA 3.0. Photo source · License $2,426/mo left
$1,782 rent
Marc Averette. CC BY-SA 3.0. Photo source · License $1,696/mo left
$2,073 rent
Quintin Soloviev. CC BY 4.0. Photo source · License $2,655/mo left
$1,489 rent
C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, Washington. Public domain. Photo source · License $3,409/mo left
$1,758 rent
Quintin Soloviev. CC BY 4.0. Photo source · License $3,181/mo left
$1,221 rent
Cessna86. Public domain. Photo source · License $2,675/mo left
$1,392 rent
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One example
Austin, TX. 1 adult, 1 bd, nurse pay, from Chicago. How we figure this
Local pay
$8,130/mo
Local pay in Austin
Tax
−$1,712/mo
Texas income tax
Rent, 1br
−$1,221/mo
Asking rent
Everything else
−$2,016/mo
Groceries, transport, utilities, healthcare, childcare
Moves with a big gap
- Biggest leftover gainNew York → RaleighRaleigh keeps $1,502 more a month after tax and rent than New York ($2,751 vs $1,249) on the default household.
- Another wide gapLos Angeles → AustinSame leftover math, different coast: Austin leaves $1,478 more a month than Los Angeles.
- Same-state surpriseLas Vegas → RenoSame Nevada tax code. Las Vegas still keeps $263 more leftover a month than Reno — the move people search is not the leftover win.
- Remote paycheck, cheaper rentSan Francisco → AustinHold $120k flat. Austin leaves $4,494 a month versus $2,083 in San Francisco — $2,411 more leftover after the same tax-and-rent model.
- Remote-friendly leftoverSan Antonio on a $120k remote salarySan Antonio leads large metros at this paycheck: $4,753 left over a month, $3,085 more than keeping the same $120k in New York.
This month's leftover leaderboard · All editions · Same state, worse leftover
Left over each month
Dollars after tax and rent, not a cost-of-living percentage. Leftover vs a cost index · Monthly leaderboard · What moved
Guides
- Leftover leaderboard, October 2026October 2026. Three salaries. How much is left after tax and a 1 bd rent.
- Leftover is not a cost-of-living indexAn index gives you a percentage. Leftover is what you keep after tax and rent.
- Why a cheaper cost-of-living score can still leave you worse offA city that scores 20% cheaper on a cost index can still leave you with less money each month.
- Best leftover metros for remote workersHold the paycheck flat. Rank the money left each month. Then decide if you want to live there.
- How to use Uprootmap before you moveWrite the paycheck, see the dollars left each month, and visit only after both check out.
- Same state, worse leftoverSharing a state income tax is not the same leftover. Pay and rent still decide the month.
Start here
- Las Vegas → RenoReno leaves $263 less each month than Las Vegas.
- Leaving California for TexasAustin leaves $818 more each month after tax and rent.
- New York → RaleighRaleigh leaves $1,503 more each month after tax and rent.
- Los Angeles → DallasDallas leaves $1,346 more each month after tax and rent.
- Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, three bedrooms — ranked by leftover.
- Remote softwareSalary stays put; leftover changes with tax and rent.
- RN take-home in AustinRegistered nurse leftover after Texas tax and rent.
- Software developer in SeattleTake-home and leftover with no Washington income tax.
Compare two cities
- Austin vs San FranciscoAustin keeps $817 more a month than San Francisco.
- Los Angeles vs AustinAustin keeps $1,478 more a month than Los Angeles.
- New York vs AustinAustin keeps $1,932 more a month than New York.
- Chicago vs AustinAustin keeps $755 more a month than Chicago.
- Seattle vs AustinSeattle keeps $228 more a month than Austin.
- New York vs RaleighRaleigh keeps $1,502 more a month than New York.
- Washington vs RaleighWashington keeps $162 more a month than Raleigh.
- Chicago vs NashvilleNashville keeps $249 more a month than Chicago.
- San Francisco vs San JoseSan Francisco keeps $443 more a month than San Jose.
- Las Vegas vs RenoLas Vegas keeps $263 more a month than Reno.
- Reno vs Las VegasLas Vegas keeps $263 more a month than Reno.
- San Francisco vs AustinAustin keeps $817 more a month than San Francisco.
- Los Angeles vs DallasDallas keeps $1,346 more a month than Los Angeles.
- San Jose vs AustinAustin keeps $1,260 more a month than San Jose.
- Seattle vs DenverSeattle keeps $754 more a month than Denver.
- Los Angeles vs PhoenixPhoenix keeps $872 more a month than Los Angeles.
- Chicago vs DallasDallas keeps $623 more a month than Chicago.
- New York vs MiamiMiami keeps $447 more a month than New York.
- Denver vs AustinAustin keeps $526 more a month than Denver.
Popular moves
- San Francisco → AustinAustin keeps $817 more a month.
- Los Angeles → AustinAustin keeps $1,478 more a month.
- Las Vegas → RenoReno costs $263 a month versus Las Vegas.
- Reno → Las VegasLas Vegas keeps $263 more a month.
- New York → RaleighRaleigh keeps $1,502 more a month.
- Los Angeles → DallasDallas keeps $1,346 more a month.
- Seattle → AustinAustin costs $228 a month versus Seattle.
- Chicago → AustinAustin keeps $755 more a month.
- Denver → AustinAustin keeps $526 more a month.
- Chicago → DallasDallas keeps $623 more a month.
- New York → MiamiMiami keeps $447 more a month.
- Los Angeles → PhoenixPhoenix keeps $872 more a month.
Change the household
Top 5
- 1$3,494
- 2$3,409
- 3$3,353
- 4$3,267
- 5$3,209
Pittsfield, MA
A different city each day.
Sunny days a year
184
July high / Jan low
83° / 25°F
Average one-way commute
21 min
Car dependency
Mostly driving
Population
128k
State income tax
Yes
$2,173/mo left over. A flat 5% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,562 and 184 sunny days; commutes average 21 minutes. Open Pittsfield
Sources
Data updated Oct 11, 2026 · next update Nov 13, 2026
Rents and home values refreshed 2026-09-04. Zillow asking rents were refreshed 2026-09-22 (series through 2026-08-31). Nothing is saved on our servers. Bookmark a page to come back.
| Dataset | Used for | Refresh |
|---|---|---|
| Census ACS 5-year | Wages, population, commute times, home values | Annual release |
| Zillow ZORI | Asking rents by bedroom count | Monthly |
| HUD Fair Market Rents | Rent floors where asking rents run thin | Annual, by fiscal year |
| BEA Regional Price Parities | Non-housing price level per metro | Annual |
| Open-Meteo ERA5 archive | July highs, January lows, sunny days | 2023-2024 daily archive |
| IRS SOI migration | Who moved between counties, and their income | Annual, tax-year lag |
| NCES Common Core of Data | Public-school enrollment | Annual |
| County Health Rankings | Homicide rates and health context | Annual |
- Zillow ZORI asking rents through 2026-08-31 (multifamily series, 2-bedroom anchor)
- Census ACS 2023 5-year (B25077 home value, B19013 income; B25031 rent as cross-check)
- HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027
- 3 ACS rent cells at or above the $3,500 top code recorded as null rather than as a measurement
Cities
1 adult, 1 bd, local pay.
- Austin, TX$3,181
- Seattle, WA$3,409
- Los Angeles, CA$1,703
- Chicago, IL$2,426
- Dallas, TX$3,049
- Denver, CO$2,655
- Houston, TX$3,170
- Phoenix, AZ$2,575
- New York, NY$1,249
- Midland, TX$3,494
- Salt Lake City, UT$2,571
- Las Vegas, NV$2,559
- Reno, NV$2,296
- San Francisco, CA$2,364
- Raleigh, NC$2,751
- Miami, FL$1,696
Take-home by job
Salary take-home and leftover after tax and rent for the jobs people search, in the metros they search. Each page is a real computed leftover, then links into rankings and city compares.
- Registered nurse in AustinAbout $3,201 left over a month after tax and rent.
- Software developer in SeattleAbout $6,535 left over a month after tax and rent.
- Elementary school teacher in DallasAbout $1,255 left over a month after tax and rent.
- Accountant / auditor in DenverAbout $2,687 left over a month after tax and rent.
- Truck driver (heavy) in HoustonAbout $838 left over a month after tax and rent.
- Lawyer in New YorkAbout $6,162 left over a month after tax and rent.
- Registered nurse
- Software developer
- Elementary school teacher
- High school teacher
- Accountant / auditor
- Truck driver (heavy)
- Electrician
- Civil engineer
- Lawyer
- Police officer
- Financial analyst
- Pharmacist
- Product / project manager
- Physical therapist
- Nurse practitioner
- Physician
- Construction manager
- Data scientist
- Firefighter
- Mechanical engineer
Browse metros
The 24 largest by population, with the monthly figure for the default profile.
- Atlanta, GA$2,496
- Baltimore, MD$2,414
- Boston, MA$1,967
- Charlotte, NC$2,578
- Chicago, IL$2,426
- Dallas, TX$3,049
- Denver, CO$2,655
- Detroit, MI$2,505
- Houston, TX$3,170
- Los Angeles, CA$1,703
- Miami, FL$1,696
- Minneapolis, MN$2,767
- New York, NY$1,249
- Orlando, FL$2,193
- Philadelphia, PA$2,437
- Phoenix, AZ$2,575
- Riverside, CA$1,395
- San Antonio, TX$2,835
- San Diego, CA$1,593
- San Francisco, CA$2,364
- Seattle, WA$3,409
- St. Louis, MO$2,661
- Tampa, FL$2,320
- Washington, DC$2,913
Questions
Why is a cost-of-living index the wrong way to compare cities?
A cost-of-living index mixes meals, transit, and an average rent into one percentage. It skips your tax bill and treats every household the same. What you keep after tax and rent is money you can spend.
Does Uprootmap save the salary and household I enter?
The household stays on this device. It is sent to us only if you sign up for the monthly email. There is no account.
How many US cities does Uprootmap cover?
387 US metros. For each city, the number uses federal, state, and city wage tax, plus rent for the bedrooms you need.