Cities where a local salary goes furthest

Not the biggest paycheques — the ones that stretch: cities ranked by how far the average local salary goes against the full local cost of living, so earning locally still leaves room to save.

Methodology: Only cities with an average local salary of $800+/mo qualify; ranked by the ratio of average monthly salary to all-in monthly living cost, highest first.

1. 1. Geneva, Switzerland

   ~2x salary-to-cost · $8,500/mo pay · $4,170/mo costs

   ~$8,500/mo average salary covers $4,170/mo of costs about 2x over.

2. 2. Perth, Australia

   ~2x salary-to-cost · $5,200/mo pay · $2,640/mo costs

   ~$5,200/mo average salary covers $2,640/mo of costs about 2x over.

3. 3. Vaduz, Liechtenstein

   ~1.9x salary-to-cost · $6,000/mo pay · $3,090/mo costs

   ~$6,000/mo average salary covers $3,090/mo of costs about 1.9x over.

4. 4. Fukuoka, Japan

   ~1.9x salary-to-cost · $2,800/mo pay · $1,470/mo costs

   ~$2,800/mo average salary covers $1,470/mo of costs about 1.9x over.

5. 5. Seattle, United States

   ~1.9x salary-to-cost · $7,000/mo pay · $3,720/mo costs

   ~$7,000/mo average salary covers $3,720/mo of costs about 1.9x over.

6. 6. Wrocław, Poland

   ~1.9x salary-to-cost · $2,000/mo pay · $1,065/mo costs

   ~$2,000/mo average salary covers $1,065/mo of costs about 1.9x over.

7. 7. Zurich, Switzerland

   ~1.8x salary-to-cost · $6,700/mo pay · $3,660/mo costs

   ~$6,700/mo average salary covers $3,660/mo of costs about 1.8x over.

8. 8. Portland, United States

   ~1.8x salary-to-cost · $5,600/mo pay · $3,100/mo costs

   ~$5,600/mo average salary covers $3,100/mo of costs about 1.8x over.

9. 9. Denver, United States

   ~1.8x salary-to-cost · $5,600/mo pay · $3,180/mo costs

   ~$5,600/mo average salary covers $3,180/mo of costs about 1.8x over.

10. 10. The Hague, Netherlands

    ~1.8x salary-to-cost · $4,100/mo pay · $2,340/mo costs

    ~$4,100/mo average salary covers $2,340/mo of costs about 1.8x over.

11. 11. Kraków, Poland

    ~1.8x salary-to-cost · $1,900/mo pay · $1,085/mo costs

    ~$1,900/mo average salary covers $1,085/mo of costs about 1.8x over.

12. 12. San Francisco, United States

    ~1.7x salary-to-cost · $8,200/mo pay · $4,730/mo costs

    ~$8,200/mo average salary covers $4,730/mo of costs about 1.7x over.

13. 13. Frankfurt, Germany

    ~1.7x salary-to-cost · $4,400/mo pay · $2,540/mo costs

    ~$4,400/mo average salary covers $2,540/mo of costs about 1.7x over.

14. 14. Rotterdam, Netherlands

    ~1.7x salary-to-cost · $3,900/mo pay · $2,275/mo costs

    ~$3,900/mo average salary covers $2,275/mo of costs about 1.7x over.

15. 15. Utrecht, Netherlands

    ~1.7x salary-to-cost · $4,000/mo pay · $2,335/mo costs

    ~$4,000/mo average salary covers $2,335/mo of costs about 1.7x over.