Palm Beach County, FL is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA for modeled annual cost of living. This comparison shows the yearly cost gap, salary needed to keep similar purchasing power, and the categories driving the difference.
Palm Beach County, FL is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Suffolk County, MA is estimated to cost $21,456 more per year.
AnnualSpend $21,456 more per year.
MonthlySpend $1,788 more per month.
$50,000 in Palm Beach County, FL is about $67,790 in Suffolk County, MA.
Taxes increases by $9,836 per year. Healthcare saves $1,099 per year.
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Palm Beach County, FL to Suffolk County, MA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated annual total cost / area median annual income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Annual costs are shown for the selected household. The difference column shows how much more or less the category costs in Suffolk County, MA compared with Palm Beach County, FL.
| Category | Palm Beach County, FL | Suffolk County, MA | Annual difference | Monthly impact | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | $10,516 | $20,352 | +$9,836(93.53%) | +$820 | Higher in Suffolk County, MA |
| Housing | $19,668 | $27,925 | +$8,257(41.98%) | +$688 | Higher in Suffolk County, MA |
| Other Costs | $7,640 | $10,246 | +$2,606(34.11%) | +$217 | Higher in Suffolk County, MA |
| Transport | $11,415 | $13,132 | +$1,717(15.04%) | +$143 | Higher in Suffolk County, MA |
| Healthcare | $6,132 | $5,033 | -$1,099(-17.92%) | -$92 | Lower in Suffolk County, MA |
| Food | $4,939 | $5,077 | +$138(2.79%) | +$12 | Higher in Suffolk County, MA |
| Childcare | $0 | $0 | $0(0%) | $0 | About even |
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Palm Beach County, FL and Suffolk County, MA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Modeled annual costs equal about 60.9% of median family income in Palm Beach County, FL and 74.2% in Suffolk County, MA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing is $8,257 per year higher in Suffolk County, MA than in Palm Beach County, FL. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Suffolk County, MA changes their baseline budget.
Food is $138 per year higher in Suffolk County, MA than in Palm Beach County, FL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller modeled gap in Suffolk County, MA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation is $1,717 per year higher in Suffolk County, MA than in Palm Beach County, FL. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Suffolk County, MA.
Healthcare is $1,099 per year lower in Suffolk County, MA than in Palm Beach County, FL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Suffolk County, MA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities is $2,606 per year higher in Suffolk County, MA than in Palm Beach County, FL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Suffolk County, MA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare is about the same in Palm Beach County, FL and Suffolk County, MA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Suffolk County, MA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes is $9,836 per year higher in Suffolk County, MA than in Palm Beach County, FL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Suffolk County, MA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
WatchPennies uses county-level 2026 cost estimates from a 2025-2026 cost-data snapshot. The comparison includes housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, other necessities, taxes, total cost, and median family income context when available.
Read the full methodologyPalm Beach County, FL is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA by about $21,456 per year.
A $50,000 salary in Palm Beach County, FL is modeled as roughly equivalent to $67,790 in Suffolk County, MA for the selected household profile.
The comparison includes housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, other necessities, taxes, total cost, and median family income context when available.
No. WatchPennies comparisons are directional planning estimates based on county-level public datasets, not personalized financial, tax, housing, or relocation advice.
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