Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would need to be about $41,980 in Middlesex County, MA, or $8,020 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
San Mateo County, CA vs Middlesex County, MA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Middlesex County, MA is cheaper than San Mateo County, CA.
Moving to Middlesex County, MA is estimated to save $15,037 per year.
Cheaper County
Middlesex County, MASave about $15,037 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in San Mateo County, CA is about $41,980 in Middlesex County, MA.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Middlesex County, MA. Taxes saves $5,780 per year.
Housing: $3,497 lower in Middlesex County, MA
Taxes: $5,780 lower in Middlesex County, MA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,579 lower in Middlesex County, MA
Food: $300 lower in Middlesex County, MA
Transport: $1,703 lower in Middlesex County, MA
San Mateo County, CA→Middlesex County, MA
Equivalent salary in Middlesex County, MA
$41,980
-16.04% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in San Mateo County, CA: $184,583
Median Income in Middlesex County, MA: $160,640
Living Index in San Mateo County, CA 50.77%
Living Index in Middlesex County, MA 48.98%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from San Mateo County, CA to Middlesex County, MA.
* 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 San Mateo County, CA to Middlesex County, MA is estimated to save $15,037 per year. A $50,000 salary in San Mateo County, CA would have similar purchasing power to about $41,980 in Middlesex County, MA. The largest savings come from taxes and housing.
This is a -16.04% decrease in modeled annual costs. Taxes is $5,780 per year lower (-23.07%); Housing is $3,497 per year lower (-11.51%).
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 San Mateo County, CA and Middlesex County, MA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.8% of median family income in San Mateo County, CA and 49.0% in Middlesex County, MA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $3,497 per year lower in Middlesex County, MA than in San Mateo County, CA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Middlesex County, MA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $300 per year lower in Middlesex County, MA than in San Mateo County, CA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Middlesex County, MA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,703 per year lower in Middlesex County, MA than in San Mateo County, CA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Middlesex County, MA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,579 per year lower in Middlesex County, MA than in San Mateo County, CA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Middlesex County, MA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,179 per year lower in Middlesex County, MA than in San Mateo County, CA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Middlesex County, MA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in San Mateo County, CA and Middlesex County, MA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Middlesex County, MA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,780 per year lower in Middlesex County, MA than in San Mateo County, CA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Middlesex County, MA 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 Middlesex County, MA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Middlesex County, MA
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Middlesex County, MA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Middlesex County, MA
Annual Savings:
$5,780 per year
TAXES has the largest annual savings when moving to Middlesex County, MA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -12% lower | |
| Food | -6% lower | |
| Transport | -12% lower | |
| Healthcare | -34% lower | |
| Other Costs | -11% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -23% lower |
In Middlesex County, MA, modeled annual costs are $78,681 compared with $93,718 in San Mateo County, CA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Middlesex County, MA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Middlesex County, MA and San Mateo County, CA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
