About CityLedger

CityLedger compares U.S. metro areas on the things that actually decide a move — cost of living, income, rent, jobs, education, and commute — and turns them into clear, comparable scores.

The difference from most city sites is simple: we don't use a proprietary index. Every figure comes from public U.S. government data — the Census Bureau's American Community Survey and the Bureau of Economic Analysis's Regional Price Parities — and every number on a city page links back to its source. The formulas that turn that data into scores are published in full on our methodology page.

Use it to translate a salary across cities, put two metros side by side, or find places that fit your budget and priorities. It's a starting point for a big decision — not a substitute for visiting and trusting your own judgment.

CityLedger is built and maintained by Muhammad Tahir. Questions or corrections? Get in touch.