Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would need to be about $32,855 in Phillips County, CO, or $17,145 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Douglas County, CO vs Phillips County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Phillips County, CO is cheaper than Douglas County, CO.
Moving to Phillips County, CO is estimated to save $24,724 per year.
Cheaper County
Phillips County, COSave about $24,724 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Douglas County, CO is about $32,855 in Phillips County, CO.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,050 per year. Housing saves $13,502 per year.
Housing: $13,502 lower in Phillips County, CO
Taxes: $7,615 lower in Phillips County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,050 higher in Phillips County, CO
Food: $923 lower in Phillips County, CO
Transport: $744 higher in Phillips County, CO
Douglas County, CO→Phillips County, CO
Equivalent salary in Phillips County, CO
$32,855
-34.29% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Douglas County, CO: $164,967
Median Income in Phillips County, CO: $85,958
Living Index in Douglas County, CO 43.71%
Living Index in Phillips County, CO 55.11%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Douglas County, CO to Phillips 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 Phillips County, CO is estimated to save $24,724 per year. A $50,000 salary in Douglas County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $32,855 in Phillips County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -34.29% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,502 per year lower (-59.09%); Taxes is $7,615 per year lower (-46.11%).
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 Phillips 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 55.1% in Phillips County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,502 per year lower in Phillips 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 Phillips County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $923 per year lower in Phillips County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Phillips County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $744 per year higher in Phillips 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 Phillips County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,050 per year higher in Phillips County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Phillips County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,479 per year lower in Phillips County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Phillips 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 Phillips County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Phillips County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $7,615 per year lower in Phillips County, CO than in Douglas County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Phillips 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 Phillips County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Phillips County, CO
Annual Increase:
$1,050 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Phillips County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Phillips County, CO
Annual Savings:
$13,502 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Phillips County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -59% lower | |
| Food | -19% lower | |
| Transport | 5% higher | |
| Healthcare | 20% higher | |
| Other Costs | -52% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -46% lower |
In Phillips County, CO, modeled annual costs are $47,375 compared with $72,099 in Douglas County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Phillips County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Phillips 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.
