Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Poquoson city, VA would need to be about $36,500 in Benton County, MS, or $13,500 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Poquoson city, VA vs Benton County, MS: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Benton County, MS is cheaper than Poquoson city, VA.
Moving to Benton County, MS is estimated to save $17,571 per year.
Cheaper County
Benton County, MSSave about $17,571 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Poquoson city, VA is about $36,500 in Benton County, MS.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,714 per year. Housing saves $10,594 per year.
Housing: $10,594 lower in Benton County, MS
Taxes: $5,899 lower in Benton County, MS
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,714 higher in Benton County, MS
Food: $242 lower in Benton County, MS
Transport: $814 higher in Benton County, MS
Poquoson city, VA→Benton County, MS
Equivalent salary in Benton County, MS
$36,500
-27% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Poquoson city, VA: $127,663
Median Income in Benton County, MS: $52,556
Living Index in Poquoson city, VA 50.97%
Living Index in Benton County, MS 90.38%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Poquoson city, VA to Benton County, MS.
* 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 Poquoson city, VA to Benton County, MS is estimated to save $17,571 per year. A $50,000 salary in Poquoson city, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $36,500 in Benton County, MS. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -27% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,594 per year lower (-52.24%); Taxes is $5,899 per year lower (-39.38%).
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 Poquoson city, VA and Benton County, MS, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 51.0% of median family income in Poquoson city, VA and 90.4% in Benton County, MS. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,594 per year lower in Benton County, MS than in Poquoson city, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Benton County, MS changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $242 per year lower in Benton County, MS than in Poquoson city, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Benton County, MS can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $814 per year higher in Benton County, MS than in Poquoson 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 Benton County, MS.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,714 per year higher in Benton County, MS than in Poquoson city, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Benton County, MS changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,364 per year lower in Benton County, MS than in Poquoson city, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Benton County, MS help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Poquoson city, VA and Benton County, MS, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Benton County, MS, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,899 per year lower in Benton County, MS than in Poquoson city, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Benton County, MS 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 Benton County, MS.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Benton County, MS
Annual Increase:
$1,714 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Benton County, MS.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Benton County, MS
Annual Savings:
$10,594 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Benton County, MS.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -52% lower | |
| Food | -6% lower | |
| Transport | 6% higher | |
| Healthcare | 37% higher | |
| Other Costs | -44% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -39% lower |
In Benton County, MS, modeled annual costs are $47,502 compared with $65,073 in Poquoson city, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Benton County, MS. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Benton County, MS and Poquoson city, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
