Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would need to be about $26,750 in Lee County, VA, or $23,250 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Arlington County, VA vs Lee County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Lee County, VA is cheaper than Arlington County, VA.
Moving to Lee County, VA is estimated to save $36,048 per year.
Cheaper County
Lee County, VASave about $36,048 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Arlington County, VA is about $26,750 in Lee County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $2,815 per year. Housing saves $19,277 per year.
Housing: $19,277 lower in Lee County, VA
Taxes: $11,322 lower in Lee County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $185 higher in Lee County, VA
Food: $1,881 lower in Lee County, VA
Transport: $2,815 higher in Lee County, VA
Arlington County, VA→Lee County, VA
Equivalent salary in Lee County, VA
$26,750
-46.5% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Arlington County, VA: $194,878
Median Income in Lee County, VA: $60,200
Living Index in Arlington County, VA 39.78%
Living Index in Lee County, VA 68.89%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Arlington County, VA to Lee County, VA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Arlington County, VA to Lee County, VA is estimated to save $36,048 per year. A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $26,750 in Lee County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -46.5% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $19,277 per year lower (-70.01%); Taxes is $11,322 per year lower (-58.5%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Arlington County, VA and Lee County, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 39.8% of median family income in Arlington County, VA and 68.9% in Lee County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $19,277 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Lee County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,881 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Lee County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,815 per year higher in Lee County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Lee County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $185 per year higher in Lee County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Lee County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $6,569 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Lee County, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Arlington County, VA and Lee County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Lee County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $11,322 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Lee County, VA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Lee County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Lee County, VA
Annual Increase:
$2,815 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Lee County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Lee County, VA
Annual Savings:
$19,277 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Lee County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -70% lower | |
| Food | -34% lower | |
| Transport | 27% higher | |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | |
| Other Costs | -64% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -58% lower |
In Lee County, VA, modeled annual costs are $41,469 compared with $77,517 in Arlington County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Lee County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Lee County, VA is not a metropolitan location, while Arlington County, VA is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
