Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would need to be about $33,170 in Mathews County, VA, or $16,830 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Fairfax County, VA vs Mathews County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Mathews County, VA is cheaper than Fairfax County, VA.
Moving to Mathews County, VA is estimated to save $26,521 per year.
Cheaper County
Mathews County, VASave about $26,521 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Fairfax County, VA is about $33,170 in Mathews County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,022 per year. Housing saves $13,239 per year.
Housing: $13,239 lower in Mathews County, VA
Taxes: $9,048 lower in Mathews County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $123 higher in Mathews County, VA
Food: $969 lower in Mathews County, VA
Transport: $1,022 higher in Mathews County, VA
Fairfax County, VA→Mathews County, VA
Equivalent salary in Mathews County, VA
$33,170
-33.66% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fairfax County, VA: $178,683
Median Income in Mathews County, VA: $90,667
Living Index in Fairfax County, VA 44.09%
Living Index in Mathews County, VA 57.65%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fairfax County, VA to Mathews 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 Mathews County, VA is estimated to save $26,521 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $33,170 in Mathews County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -33.66% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,239 per year lower (-49.05%); Taxes is $9,048 per year lower (-45.68%).
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 Mathews 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 57.6% in Mathews County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,239 per year lower in Mathews 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 Mathews County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $969 per year lower in Mathews County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Mathews County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,022 per year higher in Mathews 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 Mathews County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $123 per year higher in Mathews County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Mathews County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,411 per year lower in Mathews County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Mathews 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 Mathews County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Mathews County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $9,048 per year lower in Mathews County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Mathews 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 Mathews County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Mathews County, VA
Annual Increase:
$1,022 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Mathews County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Mathews County, VA
Annual Savings:
$13,239 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Mathews County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -49% lower | |
| Food | -19% lower | |
| Transport | 8% higher | |
| Healthcare | 3% higher | |
| Other Costs | -44% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -46% lower |
In Mathews County, VA, modeled annual costs are $52,265 compared with $78,786 in Fairfax County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Mathews County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Mathews County, VA and Fairfax County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
