Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would need to be about $25,920 in Smyth County, VA, or $24,080 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Arlington County, VA vs Smyth County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Smyth County, VA is cheaper than Arlington County, VA.
Moving to Smyth County, VA is estimated to save $37,333 per year.
Cheaper County
Smyth County, VASave about $37,333 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Arlington County, VA is about $25,920 in Smyth County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $3,070 per year. Housing saves $20,525 per year.
Housing: $20,525 lower in Smyth County, VA
Taxes: $11,649 lower in Smyth County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $185 higher in Smyth County, VA
Food: $1,558 lower in Smyth County, VA
Transport: $3,070 higher in Smyth County, VA
Arlington County, VA→Smyth County, VA
Equivalent salary in Smyth County, VA
$25,920
-48.16% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Arlington County, VA: $194,878
Median Income in Smyth County, VA: $64,737
Living Index in Arlington County, VA 39.78%
Living Index in Smyth County, VA 62.07%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Arlington County, VA to Smyth 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 Smyth County, VA is estimated to save $37,333 per year. A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $25,920 in Smyth County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -48.16% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $20,525 per year lower (-74.55%); Taxes is $11,649 per year lower (-60.19%).
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 Smyth 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 62.1% in Smyth County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $20,525 per year lower in Smyth 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 Smyth County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,558 per year lower in Smyth County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Smyth County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $3,070 per year higher in Smyth 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 Smyth County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $185 per year higher in Smyth County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Smyth County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $6,856 per year lower in Smyth County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Smyth 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 Smyth County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Smyth County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $11,649 per year lower in Smyth County, VA than in Arlington County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Smyth 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 Smyth County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Smyth County, VA
Annual Increase:
$3,070 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Smyth County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Smyth County, VA
Annual Savings:
$20,525 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Smyth County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -75% lower | |
| Food | -28% lower | |
| Transport | 30% higher | |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | |
| Other Costs | -67% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -60% lower |
In Smyth County, VA, modeled annual costs are $40,184 compared with $77,517 in Arlington County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Smyth County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Smyth 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.
