Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Jefferson County, CO would need to be about $36,635 in Saguache County, CO, or $13,365 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Jefferson County, CO vs Saguache County, CO: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Saguache County, CO is cheaper than Jefferson County, CO.
Moving to Saguache County, CO is estimated to save $16,933 per year.
Cheaper County
Saguache County, COSave about $16,933 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Jefferson County, CO is about $36,635 in Saguache County, CO.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,671 per year. Housing saves $10,713 per year.
Housing: $10,713 lower in Saguache County, CO
Taxes: $4,887 lower in Saguache County, CO
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,063 higher in Saguache County, CO
Food: $566 lower in Saguache County, CO
Transport: $1,671 higher in Saguache County, CO
Jefferson County, CO→Saguache County, CO
Equivalent salary in Saguache County, CO
$36,635
-26.73% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Jefferson County, CO: $133,411
Median Income in Saguache County, CO: $61,144
Living Index in Jefferson County, CO 47.48%
Living Index in Saguache County, CO 75.90%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Jefferson County, CO to Saguache 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 Saguache County, CO is estimated to save $16,933 per year. A $50,000 salary in Jefferson County, CO would have similar purchasing power to about $36,635 in Saguache County, CO. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -26.73% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,713 per year lower (-54.81%); Taxes is $4,887 per year lower (-36.06%).
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 Saguache 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 75.9% in Saguache County, CO. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,713 per year lower in Saguache 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 Saguache County, CO changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $566 per year lower in Saguache County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Saguache County, CO can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,671 per year higher in Saguache 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 Saguache County, CO.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,063 per year higher in Saguache County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Saguache County, CO changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,502 per year lower in Saguache County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Saguache 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 Saguache County, CO, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Saguache County, CO, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,887 per year lower in Saguache County, CO than in Jefferson County, CO. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Saguache 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 Saguache County, CO.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Saguache County, CO
Annual Increase:
$1,671 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Saguache County, CO.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Saguache County, CO
Annual Savings:
$10,713 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Saguache County, CO.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -55% lower | |
| Food | -12% lower | |
| Transport | 13% higher | |
| Healthcare | 20% higher | |
| Other Costs | -46% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -36% lower |
In Saguache County, CO, modeled annual costs are $46,409 compared with $63,342 in Jefferson County, CO.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Saguache County, CO. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Saguache 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.
