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
$1,325
Utilities (electric, gas, water)
$120
Internet
$60
Phone plan
$50
Renters insurance
$25
Groceries & household
$400
Transport
$150
Left for everything else
$5,641/mo

Same salary, other cities

CityLeft overMedian rent
Houston, TX$5,736/mo$1,230/mo
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX$5,641/mo$1,325/mo
Austin, TX$5,426/mo$1,540/mo
Chicago, IL$4,371/mo$2,100/mo
Miami, FL$4,366/mo$2,600/mo
New York City, NY$1,416/mo$4,620/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.