Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would need to be about $32,900 in Custer County, CO, or $17,100 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Douglas County, CO vs Custer County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Custer County, CO is cheaper than Douglas County, CO.
Moving to Custer County, CO is estimated to save $24,661 per year.
Cheaper County
Custer County, COSave about $24,661 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Douglas County, CO is about $32,900 in Custer County, CO.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,060 per year. Housing saves $13,382 per year.
Housing: $13,382 lower in Custer County, CO
Taxes: $7,599 lower in Custer County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,060 higher in Custer County, CO
Food: $681 lower in Custer County, CO
Transport: $307 higher in Custer County, CO
Douglas County, CO→Custer County, CO
Equivalent salary in Custer County, CO
$32,900
-34.2% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Douglas County, CO: $164,967
Median Income in Custer County, CO: $80,069
Living Index in Douglas County, CO 43.71%
Living Index in Custer County, CO 59.25%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Douglas County, CO to Custer County, CO.
* 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 Douglas County, CO to Custer County, CO is estimated to save $24,661 per year. A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $32,900 in Custer County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -34.2% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,382 per year lower (-58.56%); Taxes is $7,599 per year lower (-46.01%).
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 Douglas County, CO and Custer County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 43.7% of median family income in Douglas County, CO and 59.2% in Custer County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,382 per year lower in Custer County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Custer County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $681 per year lower in Custer County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Custer County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $307 per year higher in Custer County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Custer County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,060 per year higher in Custer County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Custer County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,366 per year lower in Custer County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Custer County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Douglas County, CO and Custer County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Custer County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $7,599 per year lower in Custer County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Custer County, CO 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 Custer County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Custer County, CO
Annual Increase:
$1,060 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Custer County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Custer County, CO
Annual Savings:
$13,382 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Custer County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -59% lower | |
| Food | -14% lower | |
| Transport | 2% higher | |
| Healthcare | 20% higher | |
| Other Costs | -51% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -46% lower |
In Custer County, CO, modeled annual costs are $47,438 compared with $72,099 in Douglas County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Custer County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Custer County, CO is not a metropolitan location, while Douglas County, CO is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
