Kings County, NY vs St. Lawrence County, NY: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

St. Lawrence County, NY is cheaper than Kings County, NY.

Moving to St. Lawrence County, NY is estimated to save $32,862 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

St. Lawrence County, NYSave about $32,862 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Kings County, NY is about $29,420 in St. Lawrence County, NY.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $6,712 per year. Housing saves $19,596 per year.

Housing: $19,596 lower in St. Lawrence County, NY

Taxes: $10,822 lower in St. Lawrence County, NY

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $2,030 lower in St. Lawrence County, NY

Food: $796 lower in St. Lawrence County, NY

Transport: $6,712 higher in St. Lawrence County, NY

Kings County, NYSt. Lawrence County, NY
Equivalent salary in St. Lawrence County, NY
$29,420
-41.16% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Kings County, NY: $87,226
Median Income in St. Lawrence County, NY: $80,918
Living Index in Kings County, NY 91.53%
Living Index in St. Lawrence County, NY 58.05%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Kings County, NY to St. Lawrence County, NY.

* 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 Kings County, NY to St. Lawrence County, NY is estimated to save $32,862 per year. A $50,000 salary in Kings County, NY would have similar purchasing power to about $29,420 in St. Lawrence County, NY. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -41.16% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $19,596 per year lower (-69.28%); Taxes is $10,822 per year lower (-53.57%).

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 Kings County, NY and St. Lawrence County, NY, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Kings County, NY would need to be about $29,420 in St. Lawrence County, NY, or $20,580 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 91.5% of median family income in Kings County, NY and 58.1% in St. Lawrence County, NY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $19,596 per year lower in St. Lawrence County, NY than in Kings County, NY. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether St. Lawrence County, NY changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $796 per year lower in St. Lawrence County, NY than in Kings County, NY. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in St. Lawrence County, NY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $6,712 per year higher in St. Lawrence County, NY than in Kings County, NY. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around St. Lawrence County, NY.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $2,030 per year lower in St. Lawrence County, NY than in Kings County, NY. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if St. Lawrence County, NY changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $6,332 per year lower in St. Lawrence County, NY than in Kings County, NY. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in St. Lawrence County, NY help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Kings County, NY and St. Lawrence County, NY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in St. Lawrence County, NY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $10,822 per year lower in St. Lawrence County, NY than in Kings County, NY. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in St. Lawrence County, NY 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 St. Lawrence County, NY.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to St. Lawrence County, NY
Annual Increase:

$6,712 per year

TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to St. Lawrence County, NY.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to St. Lawrence County, NY
Annual Savings:

$19,596 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to St. Lawrence County, NY.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-69% lower
Food-16% lower
Transport97% higher
Healthcare-23% lower
Other Costs-61% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-54% lower

In St. Lawrence County, NY, modeled annual costs are $46,973 compared with $79,835 in Kings County, NY.

Overall, annual costs are lower in St. Lawrence County, NY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case St. Lawrence County, NY is not a metropolitan location, while Kings County, NY is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Kings County, NY vs St. Lawrence County, NY Cost of Living (2026)