Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Middlesex County, MA would need to be about $39,645 in Broward County, FL, or $10,355 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Middlesex County, MA vs Broward County, FL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Broward County, FL is cheaper than Middlesex County, MA.
Moving to Broward County, FL is estimated to save $16,292 per year.
Cheaper County
Broward County, FLSave about $16,292 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Middlesex County, MA is about $39,645 in Broward County, FL.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $661 per year. Taxes saves $8,173 per year.
Housing: $5,668 lower in Broward County, FL
Taxes: $8,173 lower in Broward County, FL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $661 higher in Broward County, FL
Food: $369 lower in Broward County, FL
Transport: $868 lower in Broward County, FL
Middlesex County, MA→Broward County, FL
Equivalent salary in Broward County, FL
$39,645
-20.71% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Middlesex County, MA: $160,640
Median Income in Broward County, FL: $88,689
Living Index in Middlesex County, MA 48.98%
Living Index in Broward County, FL 70.35%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Middlesex County, MA to Broward County, FL.
* 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 Broward County, FL is estimated to save $16,292 per year. A $50,000 salary in Middlesex County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $39,645 in Broward County, FL. The largest savings come from taxes and housing.
This is a -20.71% decrease in modeled annual costs. Taxes is $8,173 per year lower (-42.41%); Housing is $5,668 per year lower (-21.08%).
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 Broward County, FL, 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 70.3% in Broward County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $5,668 per year lower in Broward County, FL than in Middlesex County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Broward County, FL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $369 per year lower in Broward County, FL than in Middlesex County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Broward County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $868 per year lower in Broward County, FL 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 Broward County, FL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $661 per year higher in Broward County, FL than in Middlesex County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Broward County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,875 per year lower in Broward County, FL than in Middlesex County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Broward County, FL 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 Broward County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Broward County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $8,173 per year lower in Broward County, FL than in Middlesex County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Broward County, FL 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 Broward County, FL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Broward County, FL
Annual Increase:
$661 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Broward County, FL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Broward County, FL
Annual Savings:
$8,173 per year
TAXES has the largest annual savings when moving to Broward County, FL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -21% lower | |
| Food | -7% lower | |
| Transport | -7% lower | |
| Healthcare | 13% higher | |
| Other Costs | -19% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -42% lower |
In Broward County, FL, modeled annual costs are $62,389 compared with $78,681 in Middlesex County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Broward County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Broward County, FL and Middlesex County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
