St. Johns County, FL vs Hendry County, FL: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Hendry County, FL is cheaper than St. Johns County, FL.

Moving to Hendry County, FL is estimated to save $19,175 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Hendry County, FLSave about $19,175 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in St. Johns County, FL is about $35,160 in Hendry County, FL.

Biggest drivers

Healthcare increases by $455 per year. Housing saves $10,514 per year.

Housing: $10,514 lower in Hendry County, FL

Taxes: $4,688 lower in Hendry County, FL

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $455 higher in Hendry County, FL

Food: $1,235 lower in Hendry County, FL

Transport: $454 higher in Hendry County, FL

St. Johns County, FLHendry County, FL
Equivalent salary in Hendry County, FL
$35,160
-29.68% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in St. Johns County, FL: $126,912
Median Income in Hendry County, FL: $57,766
Living Index in St. Johns County, FL 50.90%
Living Index in Hendry County, FL 78.64%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from St. Johns County, FL to Hendry County, FL.

* 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 St. Johns County, FL to Hendry County, FL is estimated to save $19,175 per year. A $50,000 salary in St. Johns County, FL would have similar purchasing power to about $35,160 in Hendry County, FL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -29.68% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,514 per year lower (-51.08%); Taxes is $4,688 per year lower (-39.97%).

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 St. Johns County, FL and Hendry County, FL, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in St. Johns County, FL would need to be about $35,160 in Hendry County, FL, or $14,840 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 50.9% of median family income in St. Johns County, FL and 78.6% in Hendry County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $10,514 per year lower in Hendry County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Hendry County, FL changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $1,235 per year lower in Hendry County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Hendry County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $454 per year higher in Hendry County, FL than in St. Johns 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 Hendry County, FL.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $455 per year higher in Hendry County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Hendry County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $3,648 per year lower in Hendry County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Hendry County, FL help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.

Childcare

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

Taxes

Taxes is $4,688 per year lower in Hendry County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Hendry County, FL 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 Hendry County, FL.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Hendry County, FL
Annual Increase:

$455 per year

HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Hendry County, FL.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Hendry County, FL
Annual Savings:

$10,514 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Hendry County, FL.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-51% lower
Food-25% lower
Transport3% higher
Healthcare7% higher
Other Costs-46% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-40% lower

In Hendry County, FL, modeled annual costs are $45,429 compared with $64,604 in St. Johns County, FL.

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

In this case Hendry County, FL is not a metropolitan location, while St. Johns County, FL is a metropolitan location.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
St. Johns County, FL vs Hendry County, FL Cost of Living (2026)