Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Montgomery County, MD would need to be about $40,895 in Clarke County, VA, or $9,105 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Montgomery County, MD vs Clarke County, VA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Clarke County, VA is cheaper than Montgomery County, MD.
Moving to Clarke County, VA is estimated to save $13,149 per year.
Cheaper County
Clarke County, VASave about $13,149 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Montgomery County, MD is about $40,895 in Clarke County, VA.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $2,594 per year. Housing saves $8,108 per year.
Housing: $8,108 lower in Clarke County, VA
Taxes: $4,108 lower in Clarke County, VA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $186 higher in Clarke County, VA
Food: $912 lower in Clarke County, VA
Transport: $2,594 higher in Clarke County, VA
Montgomery County, MD→Clarke County, VA
Equivalent salary in Clarke County, VA
$40,895
-18.21% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Montgomery County, MD: $158,399
Median Income in Clarke County, VA: $135,417
Living Index in Montgomery County, MD 45.58%
Living Index in Clarke County, VA 43.61%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Montgomery County, MD to Clarke 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 Montgomery County, MD to Clarke County, VA is estimated to save $13,149 per year. A $50,000 salary in Montgomery County, MD would have similar purchasing power to about $40,895 in Clarke County, VA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -18.21% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $8,108 per year lower (-33%); Taxes is $4,108 per year lower (-24.16%).
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 Montgomery County, MD and Clarke County, VA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 45.6% of median family income in Montgomery County, MD and 43.6% in Clarke County, VA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $8,108 per year lower in Clarke County, VA than in Montgomery County, MD. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Clarke County, VA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $912 per year lower in Clarke County, VA than in Montgomery County, MD. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Clarke County, VA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $2,594 per year higher in Clarke County, VA than in Montgomery County, MD. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Clarke County, VA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $186 per year higher in Clarke County, VA than in Montgomery County, MD. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Clarke County, VA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,801 per year lower in Clarke County, VA than in Montgomery County, MD. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Clarke County, VA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Montgomery County, MD and Clarke County, VA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Clarke County, VA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,108 per year lower in Clarke County, VA than in Montgomery County, MD. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Clarke 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 Clarke County, VA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Clarke County, VA
Annual Increase:
$2,594 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Clarke County, VA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Clarke County, VA
Annual Savings:
$8,108 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Clarke County, VA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -33% lower | |
| Food | -18% lower | |
| Transport | 22% higher | |
| Healthcare | 4% higher | |
| Other Costs | -30% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -24% lower |
In Clarke County, VA, modeled annual costs are $59,054 compared with $72,203 in Montgomery County, MD.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Clarke County, VA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Clarke County, VA and Montgomery County, MD are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
