Remote Work Salary Arbitrage — How Much You Save by Moving — 2026 Study
Data: 2026-Q2 · BLS · HUD · KFFKey finding
A remote worker earning $150,000 in San Francisco who relocates to Denver gains the equivalent of a $67,713 pay cut in purchasing power.
$150k San Francisco salary — purchasing power elsewhere
Denver, CO feels like $82,287 $-67,713
Raleigh, NC feels like $74,664 $-75,336
Nashville, TN feels like $69,716 $-80,284
Austin, TX feels like $69,009 $-80,991
Columbus, OH feels like $55,315 $-94,685
Methodology
Using a $150,000 remote salary anchored in San Francisco, we computed the purchasing-power-equivalent income in five lower-cost metros, factoring housing and state taxes.
Sources: IRS 2025, Tax Foundation 2025, HUD FY2026 FMR.