How It Works

Core Features

Relative Cost Calculator

The core engine — convert any purchase into work hours, days, and income percentages.

Multi-Item Batch Analysis

Analyze multiple purchases at once with intelligent categorization and combined annual cost.

Should I Buy It?

A full decision engine with assertive verdicts and a 24-hour cooling-off waitlist.

Cost Explorer

Compare real-world retail prices of any item across countries, with historical trends.

City Compare & Relocation

Two tools: a quick city-vs-city cost comparison and a relocation salary calculator.

Your Week in Time

A spending tracker that translates every outflow into work-hours.

Cultural Costs

Global inequality visualizations across purchasing power and income percentiles.

Multi-Profile Comparisons

Compare spending power against up to 5 income profiles with advanced visualizations.

Global Positioning

Understand where your income sits in the world and how far it goes.

Budgets & Goals

Category budgets with alerts, goal tracking, and AI-guided setup.

Professional Reports

Templated reports for business, education, and journalism with a custom builder.

AI Insights & Professor Mal

Educational financial tips plus deadpan comedic advice from Professor Mal Advisor.

Donations & Charity Allocator

Optional giving with a configurable split across evidence-based charities.

Shop

Branded t-shirt designs and a printed booklet, sold via PayPal checkout.

Business & Commercial

API access, embeddable widgets, and white-label options for organizations.

How It Works

  1. 1

    Set Your Income

    Enter income & location

  2. 2

    Calculate & Explore

    Items, prices, cities, trends

  3. 3

    Get Verdicts

    Should I buy it? Cool off

  4. 4

    Compare Globally

    Profiles, countries, cities

  5. 5

    Track & Budget

    Spending, goals, reports

  6. 6

    Give (Optional)

    Turn perspective into impact

Advanced Tools

AI Budget Manager

Quick templates or AI-guided setup

  • • AI conversation setup
  • • Budget health insights
  • • Auto categorization

Professional Reports

Custom reports for any scenario

  • • 8+ templates
  • • AI custom builder
  • • PDF download

Smart Insights

AI tips & pattern recognition

  • • Financial literacy
  • • Spending patterns
  • • Professor Mal Advisor

For Business

API, embeds, white-label

  • • API integration
  • • Custom branding
  • • Enterprise support

Why Sign Up? (It's Free!)

Save Data
AI Budget
Reports
Dashboard
AI Insights
Early Access

Business & Commercial

API, white-label, embeds for organizations

Ready to Get Started?

Start understanding the true cost of things today

Optional: Turn Perspective Into Impact

RelativeCost provides informational tools only. Not financial advice. Consult professionals for decisions.