  Co-based materials have recently been explored due to potential to realise
complex bond-dependent anisotropic magnetism. Prominent examples include
Na$_2$Co$_2$TeO$_6$, BaCo$_2$(AsO$_4$)$_2$, Na$_2$BaCo(PO$_4$)$_2$, and CoX$_2$
(X = Cl, Br, I). In order to provide insight into the magnetic interactions in
these compounds, we make a comparative analysis of their local crystal electric
field excitations spectra via Raman scattering measurements. Combining these
measurements with theoretical analysis confirms the validity of $j_{\rm eff} =
1/2$ single-ion ground states for all compounds, and provides accurate
experimental estimates of the local crystal distortions, which play a prominent
role in the magnetic couplings between spin-orbital coupled Co moments.
