# A place to find what things cost (where and when) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-place-to-find-what-things-cost-where-and-when/59442 "2001-03-25T20:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-place-to-find-what-things-cost-where-and-when/59442/1 "2001-03-25T20:55:56Z")
I am trying to find an accurate site that will let me know two things. 1. What things cost back when. For example Ralph Kramden earns $42.00 a week. What would that be in today’s money. 2. What the cost of living is in different cities. For example if I make $40,000 a year in Chicago, how much would I need to make in San Francisco to have the same standard of living. I only found one site so far (for #2) and it can’t be accurate. It was saying that if I make $40,000 I would need to make $22,000 in San Diego and $43,000 in San Francisco. I know that can’t be write. Thanx ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-place-to-find-what-things-cost-where-and-when/59442/2 "2001-03-25T21:05:47Z")
I ran a google search for Cost of Living comparisons, and got several sites for your second question. [http://www.homefair.com/homefair/cmr/salcalc.html](http://www.homefair.com/homefair/cmr/salcalc.html) The first one? Well, let me hunt a bit more and get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-place-to-find-what-things-cost-where-and-when/59442/3 "2001-03-25T21:11:16Z")
Found it! I knew I’d seen this somewhere-it may not be exactly what you are looking for but [http://www.aier.org/colcalc.html](http://www.aier.org/colcalc.html) has a calculator that tells you how much a given $$ amount was worth in a given year. The year range is 1913 to present. Hope these help. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-place-to-find-what-things-cost-where-and-when/59442/4 "2001-03-25T21:42:05Z")
I use an [inflation calculator](http://www.westegg.com/inflation/) that goes back to 1800. Mine syas $42 in 1955 would be worth about $260 today, and **Lsura** ’s says about $270. Other sites are availible that calculate inflation in U.S. currency as far backa 1720, and British currency as far back as 1660. See [Current Value of Old Money](http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/current/howmuch.html) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-place-to-find-what-things-cost-where-and-when/59442/5 "2001-03-25T22:36:33Z")
There is no agreed-upon cost-of-living index for comparing cities. Every site seems to use its own index, based on whatever data they think is important. **Lsura** ’s link says $40K in Chicago corresponds to $30K in San Diego or $44K in San Francisco. [Monstermoving](http://www.monstermoving.com/Find_A_Place/Calculators/SalaryCalc/index.asp) says $40K in Chicago corresponds to $33K in San Diego and $52K in San Francisco. You can find a large number of sites that list their cost-of-living indexes by searching Google for **“cost of living index” “New York” “San Francisco” Chicago**