Salary is not the same as buying power
A larger salary can still feel worse if housing, commuting, taxes, and family costs rise faster than income. A smaller salary can work if fixed costs fall and quality of life improves. Use this as a first-pass translation, then run your actual budget through the full cost of living planner.
Best practice: compare monthly take-home pay after taxes, retirement contributions, insurance premiums, and predictable payroll deductions—not only gross salary.
When to be skeptical
Be careful with moves where the new salary barely clears the cost adjustment, the first-year moving costs are high, or your housing plan depends on finding a deal that may not exist when you arrive.