Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Manassas Park city, VA would need to be about $38,815 in James City County, VA, or $11,185 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Manassas Park city, VA vs James City County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
James City County, VA is cheaper than Manassas Park city, VA.
Moving to James City County, VA is estimated to save $17,877 per year.
Cheaper County
James City County, VASave about $17,877 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Manassas Park city, VA is about $38,815 in James City County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Food increases by $450 per year. Housing saves $7,820 per year.
Housing: $7,820 lower in James City County, VA
Taxes: $6,292 lower in James City County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $123 higher in James City County, VA
Food: $450 higher in James City County, VA
Transport: $2,050 lower in James City County, VA
Manassas Park city, VA→James City County, VA
Equivalent salary in James City County, VA
$38,815
-22.37% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Manassas Park city, VA: $103,326
Median Income in James City County, VA: $127,805
Living Index in Manassas Park city, VA 77.34%
Living Index in James City County, VA 48.54%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Manassas Park city, VA to James City 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 Manassas Park city, VA to James City County, VA is estimated to save $17,877 per year. A $50,000 salary in Manassas Park city, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $38,815 in James City County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -22.37% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $7,820 per year lower (-29.71%); Taxes is $6,292 per year lower (-31.13%).
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 Manassas Park city, VA and James City County, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 77.3% of median family income in Manassas Park city, VA and 48.5% in James City County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $7,820 per year lower in James City County, VA than in Manassas Park city, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether James City County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $450 per year higher in James City County, VA than in Manassas Park city, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in James City County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,050 per year lower in James City County, VA than in Manassas Park city, 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 James City County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $123 per year higher in James City County, VA than in Manassas Park city, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if James City County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,288 per year lower in James City County, VA than in Manassas Park city, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in James City County, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Manassas Park city, VA and James City County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in James City County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $6,292 per year lower in James City County, VA than in Manassas Park city, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in James City 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 James City County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to James City County, VA
Annual Increase:
$450 per year
FOOD has the largest annual increase when moving to James City County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to James City County, VA
Annual Savings:
$7,820 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to James City County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -30% lower | |
| Food | 10% higher | |
| Transport | -14% lower | |
| Healthcare | 3% higher | |
| Other Costs | -24% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -31% lower |
In James City County, VA, modeled annual costs are $62,040 compared with $79,917 in Manassas Park city, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in James City County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case James City County, VA and Manassas Park city, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
