Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Jefferson County, KY would need to be about $43,855 in McLean County, KY, or $6,145 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Jefferson County, KY vs McLean County, KY: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
McLean County, KY is cheaper than Jefferson County, KY.
Moving to McLean County, KY is estimated to save $5,961 per year.
Cheaper County
McLean County, KYSave about $5,961 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Jefferson County, KY is about $43,855 in McLean County, KY.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $2,663 per year. Housing saves $5,269 per year.
Housing: $5,269 lower in McLean County, KY
Taxes: $1,454 lower in McLean County, KY
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $566 higher in McLean County, KY
Food: $634 lower in McLean County, KY
Transport: $2,663 higher in McLean County, KY
Jefferson County, KY→McLean County, KY
Equivalent salary in McLean County, KY
$43,855
-12.29% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Jefferson County, KY: $88,392
Median Income in McLean County, KY: $91,122
Living Index in Jefferson County, KY 54.85%
Living Index in McLean County, KY 46.67%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Jefferson County, KY to McLean County, KY.
* 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, KY to McLean County, KY is estimated to save $5,961 per year. A $50,000 salary in Jefferson County, KY would have similar purchasing power to about $43,855 in McLean County, KY. The largest savings come from housing and other costs.
This is a -12.29% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $5,269 per year lower (-43.05%); Other Costs is $1,833 per year lower (-35.81%).
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, KY and McLean County, KY, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 54.9% of median family income in Jefferson County, KY and 46.7% in McLean County, KY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $5,269 per year lower in McLean County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether McLean County, KY changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $634 per year lower in McLean County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in McLean County, KY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,663 per year higher in McLean County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around McLean County, KY.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $566 per year higher in McLean County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if McLean County, KY changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,833 per year lower in McLean County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in McLean County, KY help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Jefferson County, KY and McLean County, KY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in McLean County, KY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $1,454 per year lower in McLean County, KY than in Jefferson County, KY. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in McLean County, KY 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 McLean County, KY.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to McLean County, KY
Annual Increase:
$2,663 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to McLean County, KY.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to McLean County, KY
Annual Savings:
$5,269 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to McLean County, KY.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -43% lower | |
| Food | -15% lower | |
| Transport | 23% higher | |
| Healthcare | 11% higher | |
| Other Costs | -36% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -15% lower |
In McLean County, KY, modeled annual costs are $42,526 compared with $48,487 in Jefferson County, KY.
Overall, annual costs are lower in McLean County, KY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case McLean County, KY and Jefferson County, KY are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
