Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would need to be about $26,370 in Scott County, VA, or $23,630 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Arlington County, VA vs Scott County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Scott County, VA is cheaper than Arlington County, VA.
Moving to Scott County, VA is estimated to save $36,635 per year.
Cheaper County
Scott County, VASave about $36,635 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Arlington County, VA is about $26,370 in Scott County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $3,284 per year. Housing saves $20,289 per year.
Housing: $20,289 lower in Scott County, VA
Taxes: $11,471 lower in Scott County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $363 higher in Scott County, VA
Food: $1,697 lower in Scott County, VA
Transport: $3,284 higher in Scott County, VA
Arlington County, VA→Scott County, VA
Equivalent salary in Scott County, VA
$26,370
-47.26% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Arlington County, VA: $194,878
Median Income in Scott County, VA: $64,908
Living Index in Arlington County, VA 39.78%
Living Index in Scott County, VA 62.98%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Arlington County, VA to Scott 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 Scott County, VA is estimated to save $36,635 per year. A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $26,370 in Scott County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -47.26% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $20,289 per year lower (-73.69%); Taxes is $11,471 per year lower (-59.27%).
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 Scott 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 63.0% in Scott County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $20,289 per year lower in Scott 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 Scott County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,697 per year lower in Scott County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Scott County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $3,284 per year higher in Scott 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 Scott County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $363 per year higher in Scott County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Scott County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $6,826 per year lower in Scott County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Scott 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 Scott County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Scott County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $11,471 per year lower in Scott County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Scott 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 Scott County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Scott County, VA
Annual Increase:
$3,284 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Scott County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Scott County, VA
Annual Savings:
$20,289 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Scott County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -74% lower | |
| Food | -31% lower | |
| Transport | 32% higher | |
| Healthcare | 8% higher | |
| Other Costs | -66% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -59% lower |
In Scott County, VA, modeled annual costs are $40,882 compared with $77,517 in Arlington County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Scott County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Scott County, VA and Arlington County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
