Considering a Move for Your Next Opportunity?
A new job can open the door to a new city, but relocating is about much more than the position itself. Use this guide to compare the costs, logistics, career opportunities, and day-to-day factors that can help you decide whether a move makes sense for you.
Look at the whole move, not just the new job.
Salary matters, but it is only one part of a relocation decision. Consider how the move could affect your finances, commute, household, career options, and everyday quality of life.
Cost of Living
Compare housing, taxes, transportation, groceries, healthcare, and other regular expenses rather than comparing salary alone.
Housing
Research home prices or rent, neighborhood options, commute times, availability, and the costs involved in selling or moving.
Commute & Travel
Think about your daily commute, access to major highways or public transportation, and proximity to an airport if you travel often.
Family Considerations
Consider schools, childcare, a spouse or partner's career, proximity to family, and any other needs that affect your household.
Career Opportunity
Look beyond one position. Consider the broader local job market, industries in the area, and opportunities for future career growth.
Lifestyle & Community
Weather, recreation, restaurants, culture, community, and pace of life all influence how a new location will actually feel day to day.
What will your new salary actually feel like?
A higher salary does not always mean more spending power, and a similar salary can go much further in a lower-cost market. Compare your current location with the new one before evaluating the offer.
Rent or mortgage costs, property taxes, insurance, and utilities.
Consider state and local taxes that may affect take-home pay.
Commute length, fuel, parking, tolls, public transit, and vehicle needs.
Food, healthcare, childcare, utilities, services, and entertainment.
Travel, movers, deposits, temporary housing, storage, and setup expenses.
Picture what life would look like there.
A relocation affects more than your workday. Research the parts of a community that matter most to you and anyone making the move with you.
Schools & Childcare
If relevant to your household, research school options, childcare availability, commute logistics, and the neighborhoods that fit your family's priorities.
Partner or Spouse Career
Explore the local job market for anyone else whose career may be affected by the move, including major employers and industries in the area.
Climate & Environment
Think about weather, seasons, outdoor activities, geography, and other environmental changes that will become part of everyday life.
Community & Lifestyle
Explore neighborhoods, restaurants, recreation, events, healthcare, shopping, and other amenities that matter to how you spend your time outside of work.
Questions to answer before making the move.
You do not need every detail figured out immediately, but you should understand the major financial and lifestyle implications before committing to a relocation.
Have I compared my current and future cost of living?
Look beyond salary and estimate how your regular expenses could change.
Do I understand the relocation support being offered?
Clarify what the employer will and will not cover before making assumptions about moving expenses.
Have I researched where I would realistically live?
Compare housing options with commute times, neighborhoods, and the lifestyle you want.
How will the move affect the people moving with me?
Consider careers, schools, childcare, family support, and other household priorities.
Does the opportunity make sense beyond the immediate offer?
Consider the role, company, local job market, and your longer-term career goals.
Can I realistically picture myself living there?
If possible, spend time in the area and experience the neighborhoods and commute firsthand.
If you're working with a recruiter, talk through relocation questions early in the process. They may be able to provide context on the location, employer expectations, timing, and any relocation support connected to the opportunity.
Tools for researching your next city.
Use a mix of reliable resources to compare costs, housing, schools, transportation, local employment, climate, and other factors that can shape everyday life in a new location.
Bankrate Cost of Living Calculator
Compare common expenses between U.S. metro areas and get a starting point for understanding how far your salary may go in a new market.
Realtor.com
Explore homes for sale, neighborhood information, local listings, and housing costs in the areas you are considering.
Apartments.com
Compare apartments, houses, condos, and townhomes for rent to get a clearer picture of rental availability and pricing.
GreatSchools
Research public and private schools and compare available school information when education is part of your relocation decision.
Walk Score
Compare walkability, transit access, bike friendliness, and nearby amenities across cities and neighborhoods.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Review metropolitan-area employment and wage estimates by occupation to better understand the broader career market in a new location.
U.S. Census QuickFacts
Compare population, housing, income, education, and other community data for cities, counties, and states across the U.S.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals
Research typical temperature, precipitation, and snowfall using official long-term climate data for locations across the country.
Google Maps
Test potential commute routes, explore neighborhoods, and see what services, businesses, and amenities are near places you may live.
Open to your next opportunity?
Explore current openings or find more resources to help you navigate your job search and career decisions.