Relocation Package Calculator
Estimate the real value of a job relocation offer. Add up moving, housing, and signing payments, subtract taxes, and adjust for cost of living in your new city to see the true net benefit of accepting the move.
Relocation Benefits Offered
Cost of Living Comparison (optional)
What Is a Relocation Package Worth?
A job relocation package is a bundle of benefits — moving allowance, signing bonus, temporary housing, home sale help — that an employer offers to get you to move for a role. Typical packages range from $10,000 for entry-level positions to $75,000+ for executive moves. The headline number is misleading though: most components are taxable income in the US since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the moving expense deduction for most employees, so your real take-home can be 25-40% less than the stated package value.
Taxable vs Non-Taxable Components
Under current IRS rules, nearly all employer-paid relocation benefits are taxable as W-2 wages — including direct reimbursements, lump-sum bonuses, and the value of temporary housing. Exceptions are narrow: active-duty military moves remain deductible, and some qualified corporate moves still use gross-up (where the employer pays the tax for you). Always ask HR whether your package is grossed up — if yes, the company pays the tax on top, so $20,000 stays $20,000 in your pocket. If not, expect roughly two-thirds of the gross to reach you after federal, state, FICA, and Medicare.
Cost of Living Changes the Math
A $20,000 raise to move from Austin to San Francisco is not a raise — it is a pay cut. San Francisco housing alone costs ~80% more than Austin. Always adjust your new salary for the cost of living difference before deciding. A rough rule: if the COL is 20% higher, you need a 20% higher salary just to break even. The relocation package is a one-time benefit; the COL-adjusted salary is what you live on for years, and it usually matters 10-50× more than the signing bonus.
How to Negotiate a Better Package
Relocation is one of the easiest things to negotiate because employers already have a budget for it. Ask for: (1) a gross-up on the lump sum so taxes don't eat 30%, (2) extended temporary housing (60-90 days), (3) home sale assistance or a loss-on-sale guarantee if you own, (4) a return trip or spouse job-search visit, and (5) a repayment clause with a short 12-month term rather than 24. If the company won't grow the package, ask them to convert part to base salary — that compounds over your career, while relocation money is spent once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are relocation benefits taxable?
Yes. Since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, nearly all employer-paid relocation benefits are taxable as W-2 wages for non-military employees. This includes lump-sum payments, moving reimbursements, and the value of temporary housing. Expect to lose 25-40% to federal, state, FICA, and Medicare taxes.
What is a gross-up on relocation?
A gross-up means the employer pays the taxes on top of your relocation benefit, so the full stated amount reaches you. If they offer $20,000 with a full gross-up, you get $20,000 net. Without a gross-up, that same $20,000 might be ~$13,000 after tax. Always ask HR whether your package is grossed up.
What is a typical relocation package worth?
Ranges vary by level: entry-level $5,000-$15,000, mid-level $15,000-$40,000, executive $40,000-$100,000+. A full-service package for a homeowner (including home sale help and destination services) can exceed $75,000 in reported value.
Should I take a lump sum or reimbursement?
Lump sum is simpler and gives you control, but you pay tax on the full amount and any leftover is yours. Reimbursement via receipts is harder to abuse but may have a cap. For most moves, a grossed-up lump sum is best — ask for it.
What about the repayment clause?
Most packages require you to repay part or all of the relocation if you leave within 12-24 months. Always ask to cap repayment at 12 months and negotiate the trigger — involuntary termination without cause should not trigger repayment.
Is my data private?
Yes. All calculations run entirely in your browser. No salary, tax, or relocation data is sent to any server.