You don't have to, as GoBankingRates have put together a guide that features 50 of America’s largest cities that offer the most value for your dollar (before taxes).

via: GoBakingRates

They compared the total amount of income needed to the actual median household income in each city to see if differences in cost of living are matched by differences in pay. It sounds complicated, which it probably is, but they're broken down below in order of population from smallest to largest.

Bakersfield, California - $43,425

50 percent for necessities: $21,713 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,028 20 percent for savings: $8,685

Arlington, Texas - $46,904

50 percent for necessities: $23,452 30 percent for discretionary spending: $14,071 20 percent for savings: $9,381

New Orleans, Louisiana - $60,782

50 percent for necessities: $30,391 30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,235 20 percent for savings: $12,156

Wichita, Kansas - $40,616

50 percent for necessities: $20,308 30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,185 20 percent for savings: $8,123

Cleveland, Ohio - $42,589

50 percent for necessities: $21,295 30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,777 20 percent for savings: $8,518

Minneapolis, Minnesota - $64,170

50 percent for necessities: $32,085 30 percent for discretionary spending: $19,251 20 percent for savings: $12,834

Miami, Florida - $77,057

50 percent for necessities: $38,529 30 percent for discretionary spending: $23,117 20 percent for savings: $15,411

Raleigh, North Carolina - $55,537

50 percent for necessities: $27,769 30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,661 20 percent for savings: $11,107

Colorado Springs, Colorado - $44,512

50 percent for necessities: $22,256 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,354 20 percent for savings: $8,902

Omaha, Nebraska - $45,560

50 percent for necessities: $22,780 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,668 20 percent for savings: $9,112

Virginia Beach, Virginia - $50,929

50 percent for necessities: $25,465 30 percent for discretionary spending: $15,279 20 percent for savings: $10,186

Atlanta, Georgia - $60,285

50 percent for necessities: $30,143 30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,086 20 percent for savings: $12,057

Mesa, Arizona - $42,654

50 percent for necessities: $21,327 30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,796 20 percent for savings: $8,531

Kansas City, Missouri - $45,311

50 percent for necessities: $22,656 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,593 20 percent for savings: $9,062

Long Beach, California - $58,560

50 percent for necessities: $29,280 30 percent for discretionary spending: $17,568 20 percent for savings: $11,712

Sacramento, California - $53,736

50 percent for necessities: $26,868 30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,121 20 percent for savings: $10,747

Fresno, California - $42,496

50 percent for necessities: $21,248 30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,749 20 percent for savings: $8,499

Tucson, Arizona - $39,966

50 percent for necessities: $19,983 30 percent for discretionary spending: $11,990 20 percent for savings: $7,993

Albuquerque, New Mexico - $43,895

50 percent for necessities: $21,947 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,168 20 percent for savings: $8,779

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - $43,281

50 percent for necessities: $21,641 30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,984 20 percent for savings: $8,656

Louisville, Kentucky - $46,831

50 percent for necessities: $23,415 30 percent for discretionary spending: $14,049 20 percent for savings: $9,366

Las Vegas, Nevada - $50,453

50 percent for necessities: $25,227 30 percent for discretionary spending: $15,136 20 percent for savings: $10,091

Portland, Oregon - $60,195

50 percent for necessities: $30,097 30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,058 20 percent for savings: $12,039

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - $44,180

50 percent for necessities: $22,090 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,254 20 percent for savings: $8,836

Baltimore - $53,897

50 percent for necessities: $26,949 30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,169 20 percent for savings: $10,779

Nashville, Tennessee - $61,015

50 percent for necessities: $30,508 30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,305 20 percent for savings: $12,203

Boston, Massachussetts - $84,422

50 percent for necessities: $42,211 30 percent for discretionary spending: $25,327 20 percent for savings: $16,884

Memphis, Tennessee - $44,180

50 percent for necessities: $22,090 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,254 20 percent for savings: $8,836

Washington, DC - $83,104

50 percent for necessities: $41,552 30 percent for discretionary spending: $24,931 20 percent for savings: $16,621

Denver, Colorado - $62,842

50 percent for necessities: $31,421 30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,853 20 percent for savings: $12,568

Seattle, Washington - $72,092

50 percent for necessities: $36,046 30 percent for discretionary spending: $21,628 20 percent for savings: $14,418

El Paso, Texas - $40,227

50 percent for necessities: $20,113 30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,068 20 percent for savings: $8,045

Detroit, Michigan - $42,772

50 percent for necessities: $21,386 30 percent for discretionary spending: $12,832 20 percent for savings: $8,554

Charlotte, North Carolina - $53,842

50 percent for necessities: $26,921 30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,152 20 percent for savings: $10,768

Fort Worth, Texas - $51,759

50 percent for necessities: $25,879 30 percent for discretionary spending: $15,528 20 percent for savings: $10,352

Columbus, Ohio - $45,466

50 percent for necessities: $22,733 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,640 20 percent for savings: $9,093

Indianapolis, Indiana - $46,016

50 percent for necessities: $23,008 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,805 20 percent for savings: $9,203

San Francisco, California - $119,570

50 percent for necessities: $59,785 30 percent for discretionary spending: $35,871 20 percent for savings: $23,914

Jacksonville, Florida - $49,842

50 percent for necessities: $24,921 30 percent for discretionary spending: $14,953 20 percent for savings: $9,969

Austin, Texas - $53,225

50 percent for necessities: $26,612 30 percent for discretionary spending: $15,967 20 percent for savings: $10,645

San Jose, California - $89,734

50 percent for necessities: $44,867 30 percent for discretionary spending: $26,920 20 percent for savings: $17,947

Dallas, Texas - $55,651

50 percent for necessities: $27,826 30 percent for discretionary spending: $16,695 20 percent for savings: $11,130

San Diego, California - $69,307

50 percent for necessities: $34,654 30 percent for discretionary spending: $20,792 20 percent for savings: $13,861

San Antonio, Texas - $46,238

50 percent for necessities: $23,119 30 percent for discretionary spending: $13,872 20 percent for savings: $9,248

Phoenix, Arizona - $48,876

50 percent for necessities: $24,438 30 percent for discretionary spending: $14,663 20 percent for savings: $9,775

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - $59,384

50 percent for necessities: $29,692 30 percent for discretionary spending: $17,815 20 percent for savings: $11,877

Houston, Texas - $60,795

50 percent for necessities: $30,397 30 percent for discretionary spending: $18,238 20 percent for savings: $12,159

Chicago, Illinois - $68,671

50 percent for necessities: $34,335 30 percent for discretionary spending: $20,601 20 percent for savings: $13,734

Los Angeles, California - $74,371

50 percent for necessities: $37,185 30 percent for discretionary spending: $22,311 20 percent for savings: $14,874

New York, New York - $87,446

50 percent for necessities: $43,723 30 percent for discretionary spending: $26,234 20 percent for savings: $17,489 To summarize, we should all move to Virginia Beach and make sure to avoid Miami. Who's in?

Via: GoBanking Rates