How to use the cost of living calculator
- Enter your housing cost — rent or mortgage each month.
- Enter your food and groceries spend.
- Enter transport — fuel, transit or car costs.
- Enter utilities — power, water, internet.
- Enter any other expenses and your monthly income.
- Read your total expenses, what is left, and the share of income spent.
Worked example
Your housing is $1,500, food $600, transport $300, utilities $200, other $400, and income $3,500. Total expenses are $3,000, you have $500 left, and you spend 86% of your income.
The math
total = housing + food + transport + utilities + other
leftover = income - total
share = total / income x 100
If your leftover is negative, your expenses exceed your income. Look for the largest category to cut first.