Broward County, FL vs Jefferson County, FL: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Jefferson County, FL is cheaper than Broward County, FL.

Moving to Jefferson County, FL is estimated to save $20,129 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Jefferson County, FLSave about $20,129 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Broward County, FL is about $33,870 in Jefferson County, FL.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $1,737 per year. Housing saves $12,701 per year.

Housing: $12,701 lower in Jefferson County, FL

Taxes: $4,681 lower in Jefferson County, FL

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $344 lower in Jefferson County, FL

Food: $150 lower in Jefferson County, FL

Transport: $1,737 higher in Jefferson County, FL

Broward County, FLJefferson County, FL
Equivalent salary in Jefferson County, FL
$33,870
-32.26% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Broward County, FL: $88,689
Median Income in Jefferson County, FL: $73,788
Living Index in Broward County, FL 70.35%
Living Index in Jefferson County, FL 57.27%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Broward County, FL to Jefferson County, FL.

* 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 Broward County, FL to Jefferson County, FL is estimated to save $20,129 per year. A $50,000 salary in Broward County, FL would have similar purchasing power to about $33,870 in Jefferson County, FL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -32.26% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $12,701 per year lower (-59.87%); Taxes is $4,681 per year lower (-42.17%).

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 Broward County, FL and Jefferson County, FL, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Broward County, FL would need to be about $33,870 in Jefferson County, FL, or $16,130 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 70.3% of median family income in Broward County, FL and 57.3% in Jefferson County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $12,701 per year lower in Jefferson County, FL than in Broward County, FL. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Jefferson County, FL changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $150 per year lower in Jefferson County, FL than in Broward County, FL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Jefferson County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $1,737 per year higher in Jefferson County, FL than in Broward County, FL. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Jefferson County, FL.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $344 per year lower in Jefferson County, FL than in Broward County, FL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Jefferson County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $3,989 per year lower in Jefferson County, FL than in Broward County, FL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Jefferson County, FL help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Broward County, FL and Jefferson County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Jefferson County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $4,681 per year lower in Jefferson County, FL than in Broward County, FL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Jefferson County, FL 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 Jefferson County, FL.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Jefferson County, FL
Annual Increase:

$1,737 per year

TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Jefferson County, FL.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Jefferson County, FL
Annual Savings:

$12,701 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Jefferson County, FL.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-60% lower
Food-3% lower
Transport15% higher
Healthcare-6% lower
Other Costs-50% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-42% lower

In Jefferson County, FL, modeled annual costs are $42,260 compared with $62,389 in Broward County, FL.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Jefferson County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Jefferson County, FL and Broward County, FL are both metropolitan locations.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Broward County, FL vs Jefferson County, FL Cost of Living (2026)