Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would need to be about $33,915 in Augusta County, VA, or $16,085 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Fairfax County, VA vs Augusta County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Augusta County, VA is cheaper than Fairfax County, VA.
Moving to Augusta County, VA is estimated to save $25,343 per year.
Cheaper County
Augusta County, VASave about $25,343 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Fairfax County, VA is about $33,915 in Augusta County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,723 per year. Housing saves $13,183 per year.
Housing: $13,183 lower in Augusta County, VA
Taxes: $8,748 lower in Augusta County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $363 higher in Augusta County, VA
Food: $1,073 lower in Augusta County, VA
Transport: $1,723 higher in Augusta County, VA
Fairfax County, VA→Augusta County, VA
Equivalent salary in Augusta County, VA
$33,915
-32.17% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fairfax County, VA: $178,683
Median Income in Augusta County, VA: $93,909
Living Index in Fairfax County, VA 44.09%
Living Index in Augusta County, VA 56.91%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fairfax County, VA to Augusta 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 Fairfax County, VA to Augusta County, VA is estimated to save $25,343 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $33,915 in Augusta County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -32.17% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,183 per year lower (-48.85%); Taxes is $8,748 per year lower (-44.16%).
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 Fairfax County, VA and Augusta County, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 44.1% of median family income in Fairfax County, VA and 56.9% in Augusta County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,183 per year lower in Augusta County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Augusta County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,073 per year lower in Augusta County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Augusta County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,723 per year higher in Augusta County, VA than in Fairfax 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 Augusta County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $363 per year higher in Augusta County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Augusta County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,426 per year lower in Augusta County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Augusta County, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Fairfax County, VA and Augusta County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Augusta County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $8,748 per year lower in Augusta County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Augusta 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 Augusta County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Augusta County, VA
Annual Increase:
$1,723 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Augusta County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Augusta County, VA
Annual Savings:
$13,183 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Augusta County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -49% lower | |
| Food | -21% lower | |
| Transport | 14% higher | |
| Healthcare | 8% higher | |
| Other Costs | -44% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -44% lower |
In Augusta County, VA, modeled annual costs are $53,443 compared with $78,786 in Fairfax County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Augusta County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Augusta County, VA and Fairfax County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
