Methodology and sources
Every figure on this site comes from a named public source with a date. Nothing is estimated or invented. When a source publishes new data, we rebuild the dataset and the date changes.
United States (50 states + DC)
| Indicator | Source | Data date |
|---|---|---|
| Price levels: overall, rents, goods, other services (U.S. = 100) | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities | 2024 (published Feb 19, 2026) |
| State income tax, top marginal rate | Tax Foundation | 2026 |
| Whether Social Security benefits are taxed | AARP; Kiplinger | Tax year 2026 |
| Sales tax, state + average local | Tax Foundation | July 1, 2026 |
| Effective property tax rate, owner-occupied homes | NAHB analysis of Census ACS | 2024 |
Limits: state averages hide differences between cities and counties. Top income-tax rates overstate what most retirees pay, because many states exempt part of pension income.
Europe (36 countries)
Price level indices (EU average = 100) for household consumption and its main categories, from Eurostat's Purchasing Power Parities programme, 2025 preliminary figures (published June 19, 2026; final figures due December 18, 2026). The United Kingdom no longer takes part in this programme.
Retiree profiles (Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Croatia)
Residence routes for non-EU citizens, income requirements, special tax regimes for foreign pensions, and U.S. tax treaty status. Each profile is verified twice before publication:
- Each claim is checked against at least two independent sources, and the official legal text where available.
- An independent reviewer that did not do the research re-checks every claim from scratch. Corrections are applied before publication.
Points that cannot be fully confirmed are shown as explicit caveats, never as facts. Last verification: November 5, 2026.
Comparing the U.S. with Europe
U.S. and European indices use different baselines, so we do not combine them yet. A direct comparison using international purchasing-power data (World Bank / OECD) is in preparation.
Not advice
This site provides general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules change — always confirm with the official source before making a decision.