Incomes and the cost of living vary across the country. Some areas might have high median income, but the cost of living is also high. Similarly, areas might have low median income, but the cost of living is relatively low. So what happens when you take the income from the former and then move to the latter? The Bureau of Economic Analysis released estimates that help make that comparison.

Quoctrung Bui for NPR made that data more accessible with a slope graph. On the left is median income, and on the right is what it feels like. Enter your metro area to focus on your point of interest.

Chart Type Used

Slope Chart