Cushy Index guide
Income Percentile vs Lifestyle Rank: The Difference That Matters
Income percentile tells where you rank by salary. Lifestyle rank estimates how that salary feels after local costs.
Direct answer
Income percentile ranks your gross salary. Lifestyle rank estimates your disposable lifestyle power after tax, rent and essentials.
Income percentile
A top 10% salary means you earn more than roughly 90% of people nationally.
Lifestyle rank
Lifestyle rank can be lower if your city is expensive or higher if costs are low.
Reality Gap
The gap between income rank and lifestyle rank explains why a strong salary can still feel underwhelming.