Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Middlesex County, MA would need to be about $33,310 in Berkshire County, MA, or $16,690 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Middlesex County, MA vs Berkshire County, MA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Berkshire County, MA is cheaper than Middlesex County, MA.
Moving to Berkshire County, MA is estimated to save $26,266 per year.
Cheaper County
Berkshire County, MASave about $26,266 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Middlesex County, MA is about $33,310 in Berkshire County, MA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $389 per year. Housing saves $13,641 per year.
Housing: $13,641 lower in Berkshire County, MA
Taxes: $8,760 lower in Berkshire County, MA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $192 higher in Berkshire County, MA
Food: $162 lower in Berkshire County, MA
Transport: $389 higher in Berkshire County, MA
Middlesex County, MA→Berkshire County, MA
Equivalent salary in Berkshire County, MA
$33,310
-33.38% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Middlesex County, MA: $160,640
Median Income in Berkshire County, MA: $95,050
Living Index in Middlesex County, MA 48.98%
Living Index in Berkshire County, MA 55.14%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Middlesex County, MA to Berkshire County, MA.
* 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 Middlesex County, MA to Berkshire County, MA is estimated to save $26,266 per year. A $50,000 salary in Middlesex County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $33,310 in Berkshire County, MA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -33.38% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,641 per year lower (-50.74%); Taxes is $8,760 per year lower (-45.45%).
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 Middlesex County, MA and Berkshire County, MA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 49.0% of median family income in Middlesex County, MA and 55.1% in Berkshire County, MA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,641 per year lower in Berkshire County, MA than in Middlesex County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Berkshire County, MA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $162 per year lower in Berkshire County, MA than in Middlesex County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Berkshire County, MA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $389 per year higher in Berkshire County, MA than in Middlesex County, MA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Berkshire County, MA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $192 per year higher in Berkshire County, MA than in Middlesex County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Berkshire County, MA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,285 per year lower in Berkshire County, MA than in Middlesex County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Berkshire County, MA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Middlesex County, MA and Berkshire County, MA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Berkshire County, MA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $8,760 per year lower in Berkshire County, MA than in Middlesex County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Berkshire County, MA 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 Berkshire County, MA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Berkshire County, MA
Annual Increase:
$389 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Berkshire County, MA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Berkshire County, MA
Annual Savings:
$13,641 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Berkshire County, MA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -51% lower | |
| Food | -3% lower | |
| Transport | 3% higher | |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | |
| Other Costs | -43% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -45% lower |
In Berkshire County, MA, modeled annual costs are $52,415 compared with $78,681 in Middlesex County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Berkshire County, MA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Berkshire County, MA and Middlesex County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
