Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Hanover County, VA would need to be about $31,815 in Lee County, VA, or $18,185 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Hanover County, VA vs Lee County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Lee County, VA is cheaper than Hanover County, VA.
Moving to Lee County, VA is estimated to save $23,705 per year.
Cheaper County
Lee County, VASave about $23,705 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Hanover County, VA is about $31,815 in Lee County, VA.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Lee County, VA. Housing saves $10,853 per year.
Housing: $10,853 lower in Lee County, VA
Taxes: $6,981 lower in Lee County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $4 lower in Lee County, VA
Food: $808 lower in Lee County, VA
Transport: $1,440 lower in Lee County, VA
Hanover County, VA→Lee County, VA
Equivalent salary in Lee County, VA
$31,815
-36.37% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Hanover County, VA: $130,347
Median Income in Lee County, VA: $60,200
Living Index in Hanover County, VA 50.00%
Living Index in Lee County, VA 68.89%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Hanover County, VA to Lee 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 Hanover County, VA to Lee County, VA is estimated to save $23,705 per year. A $50,000 salary in Hanover County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $31,815 in Lee County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -36.37% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,853 per year lower (-56.8%); Taxes is $6,981 per year lower (-46.5%).
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 Hanover County, VA and Lee County, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.0% of median family income in Hanover County, VA and 68.9% in Lee County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,853 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Hanover County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Lee County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $808 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Hanover County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Lee County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,440 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Hanover 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 Lee County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $4 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Hanover County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Lee County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,620 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Hanover County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Lee County, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Hanover County, VA and Lee County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Lee County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $6,981 per year lower in Lee County, VA than in Hanover County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Lee 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 Lee County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Lee County, VA
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Lee County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Lee County, VA
Annual Savings:
$10,853 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Lee County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -57% lower | |
| Food | -18% lower | |
| Transport | -10% lower | |
| Healthcare | -0% higher | |
| Other Costs | -49% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -46% lower |
In Lee County, VA, modeled annual costs are $41,469 compared with $65,174 in Hanover County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Lee County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Lee County, VA is not a metropolitan location, while Hanover County, VA is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
