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Monthly Cost of Living Calculator
Enter monthly amounts in one currency. The calculator totals them, annualises the result and shows how much of the budget is fixed before any discretionary spending.
Use the amount you actually pay, not the city average. Amortise annual costs such as a visa or a yearly insurance premium by dividing by twelve.
Build from categories you can check
A single average hides the two things that vary most: housing and the way you eat. Rent can be double the local average in a central neighbourhood, and groceries can be half the restaurant budget if you cook. Enter the categories separately so the total reflects your life rather than a statistical household.
Amortise annual costs. A 600 visa paid once a year is 50 a month; leaving it out makes the monthly budget look better than the year it describes.
The fixed share is the risk number
Rent, utilities, insurance, phone and visa payments arrive whether or not income does. The fixed share tells you how much of the budget cannot be cut in a bad month. Above roughly two thirds, a single missed invoice becomes a housing problem.
Keep the flexible share visible as a line, not as leftovers. The money that disappears without a category is usually the money that breaks the plan.
Frequently asked questions
Should I budget in the local currency or my own?
Use the currency you are paid in for the comparison, and convert local prices at the rate you expect. If the currency pair is volatile, keep a buffer line for the rate move.
How do I estimate the first month?
The first month is higher: deposits, furniture and a phone plan sit on top of the recurring costs. Budget those in the relocation calculator and keep this page for the steady state.
Is eating out a fixed cost?
No. It is flexible in principle, but it is also the line most people underestimate. Give it a real number instead of a target number.
Why divide by 30.44 for the daily figure?
It is the average number of days in a month across a year, which keeps the daily figure consistent with the annual total.