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PPP Calculator

PPP Calculator

Equivalent salary using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) — compare any two cities worldwide and see what your salary really means.

Enter amount like 30L, 1.5Cr, or $200K

International equivalents

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a PPP calculator, purchasing power parity calculator, or PPP salary converter?

All of these terms describe the same tool. A PPP calculator (also called a purchasing power parity calculator, purchase parity calculator, or PPP salary converter) compares salaries using real purchasing power instead of the raw currency exchange rate.

In-Hand's calculator does exactly this—enter your current city, salary, and destination, and it returns the equivalent salary you'd need to maintain the same lifestyle, along with a cost breakdown by housing, food, transport, healthcare, and utilities.

Why does this calculator compare cities, not just countries?

Most PPP calculators only give you a single, country-wide PPP index—one number for all of "India" or all of "the USA." That hides huge differences within a country: the cost of living in Mumbai is nowhere close to a Tier-2 Indian city, and the cost of living in San Francisco is nowhere close to rural Ohio, even though a country-level index treats them the same.

In-Hand's calculator compares city to city, not country to country, using PPP data across 83 cities in 28 countries. That gives you a far more accurate equivalent salary than a national average—especially since where you live within a country matters more for your actual cost of living than which country you're in.

How is my PPP-equivalent salary calculated?

  1. We take your current salary and origin city.
  2. We look up the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) price-level index for your origin and destination cities, built from real housing, food, transport, healthcare, and utility costs (sourced from Numbeo and World Bank PPP data).
  3. We compute a PPP multiplier = destination city's PPP index ÷ origin city's PPP index.
  4. We apply that multiplier to your salary, then convert to the destination currency at the current exchange rate, to get your PPP-equivalent salary.

In formula form: Equivalent salary = Your salary × (Destination city's PPP index ÷ Origin city's PPP index).

Example: ₹30L in Bangalore × a ~4.2x PPP multiplier ≈ $150K equivalent in San Francisco — enough to maintain the same lifestyle, even though the plain currency exchange rate alone suggests only ~$36K.

PPP data updated for 2026 · Sourced from Numbeo & World Bank

What is Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) and why does it matter?

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is an economic theory that compares the relative value of currencies based on what you can actually buy with them. It's not about exchange rates—it's about real purchasing power.

For example, if you earn ₹30L in Bangalore and move to San Francisco, you might need $150K to maintain the same lifestyle, even though the exchange rate suggests ₹30L equals only $36K. This is because:

  • Housing costs vary dramatically: A 2BHK in Bangalore might cost ₹40K/month, while the same in SF costs $4,500/month
  • Food and services are cheaper in India: A meal that costs ₹200 in India might cost $20 in the US
  • Transportation and utilities differ: Public transport, fuel, and utilities have different cost structures

Our calculator uses real-world PPP data from sources like Numbeo, World Bank, and city-specific cost-of-living indices to give you accurate equivalent salaries.

How accurate is this calculator?

Our calculator uses real-world data from multiple sources:

  • Cost of Living Indices: Numbeo, Expatistan, and city-specific databases
  • PPP Multipliers: World Bank PPP data adjusted for city-level variations
  • Housing Data: Real rental prices from Zillow, 99acres, and local real estate platforms
  • Salary Benchmarks: Glassdoor, Payscale, and industry-specific surveys

Accuracy factors:

  • Data is updated quarterly to reflect current market conditions
  • Calculations account for lifestyle differences (eating out, transportation preferences)
  • Results are within ±10-15% of actual requirements for most users
  • Your personal spending habits may vary—use this as a starting point

Note: This is a planning tool. Actual costs will depend on your specific lifestyle, neighborhood choice, and spending patterns.

Which salary should I enter—CTC, gross, or in-hand?

Enter your current in-hand (take-home) salary or your gross salary before taxes. The calculator works with both:

  • In-hand salary: What you actually receive after all deductions. This gives you the most accurate equivalent for maintaining your current lifestyle.
  • Gross salary: Your salary before taxes and deductions. The calculator will show you the equivalent gross salary needed in the destination city.

Don't use CTC (Cost to Company): CTC includes benefits, insurance, and other components that don't directly affect your day-to-day purchasing power. For lifestyle comparison, use your actual take-home or gross salary.

Pro tip: If you're comparing job offers, use gross salary. If you're planning a move, use in-hand salary to see what you'll need to maintain your current lifestyle.

Why can't I find my city in the list?

We support cities across multiple countries (e.g. India, USA, Australia, UK, UAE) with reliable PPP data. You can compare any city to any other city—e.g. Melbourne to San Jose, Bangalore to London. If your city isn't listed:

  • Try nearby major cities: Costs are often similar within metropolitan areas (e.g., use San Francisco for Oakland, or Mumbai for Navi Mumbai)
  • Check for alternative names: Some cities have multiple names (e.g., "Bangalore" vs "Bengaluru")
  • Use the closest match: For smaller cities, use the nearest major city as a proxy

We're expanding: We're continuously adding more cities based on user demand. Popular requests get prioritized.

What salary do I need in 2026–2027 to move from India to the US?

In 2026–2027, the equivalent salary needed depends on your specific city pair. As a benchmark:

  • ₹30L in Bangalore → ~$120K–$150K in San Francisco (PPP multiplier ~4–5x)
  • ₹25L in Mumbai → ~$100K–$130K in New York
  • ₹30L in Hyderabad → ~$90K–$110K in Austin or Seattle

These figures account for the latest Purchasing Power Parity data, cost-of-living indices, and housing prices. Use the calculator above for a precise equivalent tailored to your exact city pair and salary.

Forward-looking note: PPP data is updated quarterly. The 2026–2027 figures reflect current market conditions and are expected to remain broadly stable barring major economic shifts.

Does this work for non-India comparisons, like UK to Dubai or US to Singapore?

Yes—this is a general-purpose PPP calculator, not an India-only tool. You can compare any two of the 83 supported cities across 28 countries, regardless of where you're moving from or to.

For example:

  • £60K in London → ~AED 280K–320K in Dubai to maintain the same lifestyle
  • $130K in Austin → ~S$150K–170K in Singapore
  • €70K in Berlin → ~$85K–95K in Toronto

Use the calculator above for your exact city pair—India is just one of dozens of supported countries, not a requirement.

What does "savings potential" mean in the results?

Savings potential shows how much more (or less) you could save monthly and annually in the destination city compared to your current city, assuming you maintain the same lifestyle.

Positive savings: If the destination city is cheaper, you'll see how much extra you could save each month. This is useful for:

  • Planning early retirement (FIRE)
  • Building a larger investment portfolio
  • Paying off debts faster
  • Saving for major expenses (house, education, etc.)

Negative savings: If the destination is more expensive, it shows how much more you'd need to earn to maintain the same savings rate.

Important: This calculation assumes you maintain the same lifestyle. In reality, you might adjust your spending patterns in the new city (e.g., eating out more in SF, or saving more on housing in Austin).

Does this account for tax differences between countries?

Partially. The calculator focuses on purchasing power (what you can buy), not tax optimization. Here's what to know:

  • Tax rates vary significantly: US federal taxes (10-37%) + state taxes (0-13%) vs. India's progressive tax (5-30%)
  • Tax deductions differ: 401(k), HSA, and mortgage deductions in the US vs. Section 80C, HRA, and LTA in India
  • Our calculator shows gross equivalents: The equivalent salary needed to maintain lifestyle, but actual take-home will depend on your tax situation

What to do:

  • Use our Salary Calculator to see actual in-hand salary after taxes for both countries
  • Factor in tax-advantaged accounts (401(k) in US, EPF in India) when comparing total compensation
  • Consider consulting a tax advisor for cross-border tax planning

Pro tip: For a complete picture, compare both the PPP equivalent (this calculator) and the tax-adjusted take-home (salary calculator) to make informed decisions.