Queens County, NY vs Franklin County, NY: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Franklin County, NY is cheaper than Queens County, NY.

Moving to Franklin County, NY is estimated to save $39,666 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Franklin County, NYSave about $39,666 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Queens County, NY is about $26,845 in Franklin County, NY.

Biggest drivers

Transport increases by $5,071 per year. Housing saves $22,273 per year.

Housing: $22,273 lower in Franklin County, NY

Taxes: $13,080 lower in Franklin County, NY

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $2,030 lower in Franklin County, NY

Food: $335 lower in Franklin County, NY

Transport: $5,071 higher in Franklin County, NY

Queens County, NYFranklin County, NY
Equivalent salary in Franklin County, NY
$26,845
-46.31% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Queens County, NY: $96,052
Median Income in Franklin County, NY: $75,978
Living Index in Queens County, NY 89.17%
Living Index in Franklin County, NY 60.53%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Queens County, NY to Franklin County, NY.

* 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 Queens County, NY to Franklin County, NY is estimated to save $39,666 per year. A $50,000 salary in Queens County, NY would have similar purchasing power to about $26,845 in Franklin County, NY. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -46.31% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $22,273 per year lower (-73.36%); Taxes is $13,080 per year lower (-58.9%).

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 Queens County, NY and Franklin County, NY, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Queens County, NY would need to be about $26,845 in Franklin County, NY, or $23,155 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 89.2% of median family income in Queens County, NY and 60.5% in Franklin County, NY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $22,273 per year lower in Franklin County, NY than in Queens County, NY. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Franklin County, NY changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $335 per year lower in Franklin County, NY than in Queens County, NY. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Franklin County, NY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $5,071 per year higher in Franklin County, NY than in Queens County, NY. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Franklin County, NY.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $2,030 per year lower in Franklin County, NY than in Queens County, NY. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Franklin County, NY changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $7,019 per year lower in Franklin County, NY than in Queens County, NY. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Franklin County, NY help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

Childcare is about the same in Queens County, NY and Franklin County, NY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Franklin County, NY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $13,080 per year lower in Franklin County, NY than in Queens County, NY. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Franklin County, NY 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 Franklin County, NY.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Franklin County, NY
Annual Increase:

$5,071 per year

TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Franklin County, NY.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Franklin County, NY
Annual Savings:

$22,273 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Franklin County, NY.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-73% lower
Food-7% lower
Transport58% higher
Healthcare-23% lower
Other Costs-65% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-59% lower

In Franklin County, NY, modeled annual costs are $45,987 compared with $85,653 in Queens County, NY.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Franklin County, NY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Franklin County, NY is not a metropolitan location, while Queens County, NY is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Queens County, NY vs Franklin County, NY Cost of Living (2026)