Relocation Blindspots

What does a normal month look like in your new city?

Salary and rent are only the start. Add utilities, internet, phone, groceries, and transport — and see what a normal month actually leaves you to live on, save, and send home.

A normal month · Dallas–Fort Worth

Take-home pay
$7,771/mo
Median 1BR rent
$1,320
Utilities (electric, gas, water)
$120
Internet
$60
Phone plan
$50
Renters insurance
$25
Groceries & household
$400
Transport
$150
Left for everything else
$5,646/mo

Same salary, other cities

CityLeft overMedian rent
Houston, TX$5,896/mo$1,070/mo
Austin, TX$5,696/mo$1,270/mo
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX$5,646/mo$1,320/mo
Phoenix, AZ$5,526/mo$1,190/mo
Denver, CO$4,976/mo$1,550/mo
Seattle, WA$4,867/mo$1,960/mo
Atlanta, GA$4,777/mo$1,670/mo
Miami, FL$4,326/mo$2,640/mo
Chicago, IL$4,281/mo$2,190/mo
Los Angeles, CA$4,076/mo$2,170/mo
San Francisco Bay Area, CA$2,066/mo$4,180/mo
New York City, NY$1,486/mo$4,560/mo

Take-home is the same verified 2026 tax math as our other tools; rent is the median one-bedroom (Zumper, Jul 2026, approximate). The fixed bills are conservative national-typical figures — your building, plan, and habits will differ, which is why groceries and transport are yours to set. A budgeting compass, not a promise.