Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Jefferson County, CO would need to be about $36,720 in Costilla County, CO, or $13,280 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Jefferson County, CO vs Costilla County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Costilla County, CO is cheaper than Jefferson County, CO.
Moving to Costilla County, CO is estimated to save $16,823 per year.
Cheaper County
Costilla County, COSave about $16,823 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Jefferson County, CO is about $36,720 in Costilla County, CO.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,454 per year. Housing saves $11,061 per year.
Housing: $11,061 lower in Costilla County, CO
Taxes: $4,860 lower in Costilla County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,063 higher in Costilla County, CO
Food: $11 higher in Costilla County, CO
Transport: $1,454 higher in Costilla County, CO
Jefferson County, CO→Costilla County, CO
Equivalent salary in Costilla County, CO
$36,720
-26.56% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Jefferson County, CO: $133,411
Median Income in Costilla County, CO: $55,491
Living Index in Jefferson County, CO 47.48%
Living Index in Costilla County, CO 83.83%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Jefferson County, CO to Costilla County, CO.
* 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 Jefferson County, CO to Costilla County, CO is estimated to save $16,823 per year. A $50,000 salary in Jefferson County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $36,720 in Costilla County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -26.56% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $11,061 per year lower (-56.59%); Taxes is $4,860 per year lower (-35.86%).
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 Jefferson County, CO and Costilla County, CO, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 47.5% of median family income in Jefferson County, CO and 83.8% in Costilla County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $11,061 per year lower in Costilla County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Costilla County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $11 per year higher in Costilla County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Costilla County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,454 per year higher in Costilla County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Costilla County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,063 per year higher in Costilla County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Costilla County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,431 per year lower in Costilla County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Costilla County, CO help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Jefferson County, CO and Costilla County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Costilla County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,860 per year lower in Costilla County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Costilla County, CO 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 Costilla County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Costilla County, CO
Annual Increase:
$1,454 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Costilla County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Costilla County, CO
Annual Savings:
$11,061 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Costilla County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -57% lower | |
| Food | 0% higher | |
| Transport | 11% higher | |
| Healthcare | 20% higher | |
| Other Costs | -46% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -36% lower |
In Costilla County, CO, modeled annual costs are $46,519 compared with $63,342 in Jefferson County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Costilla County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Costilla County, CO is not a metropolitan location, while Jefferson County, CO is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
