Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would need to be about $32,040 in Sussex County, VA, or $17,960 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Fairfax County, VA vs Sussex County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Sussex County, VA is cheaper than Fairfax County, VA.
Moving to Sussex County, VA is estimated to save $28,299 per year.
Cheaper County
Sussex County, VASave about $28,299 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Fairfax County, VA is about $32,040 in Sussex County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,971 per year. Housing saves $14,829 per year.
Housing: $14,829 lower in Sussex County, VA
Taxes: $9,501 lower in Sussex County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $189 higher in Sussex County, VA
Food: $1,165 lower in Sussex County, VA
Transport: $1,971 higher in Sussex County, VA
Fairfax County, VA→Sussex County, VA
Equivalent salary in Sussex County, VA
$32,040
-35.92% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Fairfax County, VA: $178,683
Median Income in Sussex County, VA: $82,692
Living Index in Fairfax County, VA 44.09%
Living Index in Sussex County, VA 61.05%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Fairfax County, VA to Sussex 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 Sussex County, VA is estimated to save $28,299 per year. A $50,000 salary in Fairfax County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $32,040 in Sussex County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -35.92% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $14,829 per year lower (-54.94%); Taxes is $9,501 per year lower (-47.97%).
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 Sussex 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 61.1% in Sussex County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $14,829 per year lower in Sussex 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 Sussex County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,165 per year lower in Sussex County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Sussex County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,971 per year higher in Sussex 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 Sussex County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $189 per year higher in Sussex County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Sussex County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,965 per year lower in Sussex County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Sussex 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 Sussex County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Sussex County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $9,501 per year lower in Sussex County, VA than in Fairfax County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Sussex 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 Sussex County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Sussex County, VA
Annual Increase:
$1,971 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Sussex County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Sussex County, VA
Annual Savings:
$14,829 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Sussex County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -55% lower | |
| Food | -23% lower | |
| Transport | 16% higher | |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | |
| Other Costs | -50% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -48% lower |
In Sussex County, VA, modeled annual costs are $50,487 compared with $78,786 in Fairfax County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Sussex County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Sussex County, VA and Fairfax County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
