Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would need to be about $30,530 in Leon County, FL, or $19,470 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Fairfax County, VA vs Leon County, FL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Leon County, FL is cheaper than Fairfax County, VA.
Moving to Leon County, FL is estimated to save $30,683 per year.
Cheaper County
Leon County, FLSave about $30,683 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Fairfax County, VA is about $30,530 in Leon County, FL.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $839 per year. Housing saves $13,731 per year.
Housing: $13,731 lower in Leon County, FL
Taxes: $12,240 lower in Leon County, FL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $839 higher in Leon County, FL
Food: $634 lower in Leon County, FL
Transport: $456 lower in Leon County, FL
Fairfax County, VA→Leon County, FL
Equivalent salary in Leon County, FL
$30,530
-38.94% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fairfax County, VA: $178,683
Median Income in Leon County, FL: $92,213
Living Index in Fairfax County, VA 44.09%
Living Index in Leon County, FL 52.17%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fairfax County, VA to Leon 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 Fairfax County, VA to Leon County, FL is estimated to save $30,683 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $30,530 in Leon County, FL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -38.94% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,731 per year lower (-50.88%); Taxes is $12,240 per year lower (-61.79%).
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 Leon County, FL, 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 52.2% in Leon County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,731 per year lower in Leon County, FL than in Fairfax County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Leon County, FL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $634 per year lower in Leon County, FL than in Fairfax County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Leon County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $456 per year lower in Leon County, FL 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 Leon County, FL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $839 per year higher in Leon County, FL than in Fairfax County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Leon County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,460 per year lower in Leon County, FL than in Fairfax County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Leon County, FL 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 Leon County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Leon County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $12,240 per year lower in Leon County, FL than in Fairfax County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Leon 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 Leon County, FL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Leon County, FL
Annual Increase:
$839 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Leon County, FL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Leon County, FL
Annual Savings:
$13,731 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Leon County, FL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -51% lower | |
| Food | -12% lower | |
| Transport | -4% lower | |
| Healthcare | 19% higher | |
| Other Costs | -45% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -62% lower |
In Leon County, FL, modeled annual costs are $48,103 compared with $78,786 in Fairfax County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Leon County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Leon County, FL and Fairfax County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
