Comparing cost of living in various US cities

[Flower of Bliss]

DH is job searching (though currently employeed).  We live in a suburb of Houston.  He is interviewing in Seattle this week, and Salt Lake City next week.  We anticipate having 1-2 local offers as well relocation offer(s).  According to online cost of living calculators, and unsurprisingly, Houston has the lowest cost of living, Salt Lake City is higher, and Seattle is MUCH higher.  However, each cost of living calculator we check gives different numbers.  There is a big variance.  Can anyone give me tips on how to compare budgets in 3 separate locations?

FWIW, we're debt free except our house (which we'd sell ASAP if we're relocating, and we'd rent for at least a year in a new location).  We own two Honda Civics, and may go down to one car in Seattle.  So all of our expenses (housing, utilities, insurance, food, gas, household goods/clothing, children's activities, etc) will be completely location dependent.

We'll be taking into account more than just finances when we decide, but obviously finances are a very real factor.

[kristandthekids]

Honestly, I would just look at craigslist and see what rents are like. That's a huge factor in cost of living.

I don't believe those online cost of living sites at all. I looked at one recently that said you only had to make $7 an hour in live in Austin. Yeah... Maybe in the 90's. I don't think they figured in our rents going up 25% in the last year.