Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in St. Johns County, FL would need to be about $33,900 in Holmes County, FL, or $16,100 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
St. Johns County, FL vs Holmes County, FL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Holmes County, FL is cheaper than St. Johns County, FL.
Moving to Holmes County, FL is estimated to save $20,802 per year.
Cheaper County
Holmes County, FLSave about $20,802 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in St. Johns County, FL is about $33,900 in Holmes County, FL.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $761 per year. Housing saves $10,850 per year.
Housing: $10,850 lower in Holmes County, FL
Taxes: $5,008 lower in Holmes County, FL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $643 lower in Holmes County, FL
Food: $1,293 lower in Holmes County, FL
Transport: $761 higher in Holmes County, FL
St. Johns County, FL→Holmes County, FL
Equivalent salary in Holmes County, FL
$33,900
-32.2% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in St. Johns County, FL: $126,912
Median Income in Holmes County, FL: $58,912
Living Index in St. Johns County, FL 50.90%
Living Index in Holmes County, FL 74.35%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from St. Johns County, FL to Holmes 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 Holmes County, FL is estimated to save $20,802 per year. A $50,000 salary in St. Johns County, FL would have similar purchasing power to about $33,900 in Holmes County, FL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -32.2% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,850 per year lower (-52.72%); Taxes is $5,008 per year lower (-42.69%).
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 Holmes County, FL, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.9% of median family income in St. Johns County, FL and 74.4% in Holmes County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,850 per year lower in Holmes 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 Holmes County, FL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $1,293 per year lower in Holmes County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Holmes County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $761 per year higher in Holmes 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 Holmes County, FL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $643 per year lower in Holmes County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Holmes County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,770 per year lower in Holmes County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Holmes 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 Holmes County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Holmes County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,008 per year lower in Holmes County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Holmes 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 Holmes County, FL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Holmes County, FL
Annual Increase:
$761 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Holmes County, FL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Holmes County, FL
Annual Savings:
$10,850 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Holmes County, FL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -53% lower | |
| Food | -26% lower | |
| Transport | 6% higher | |
| Healthcare | -11% lower | |
| Other Costs | -47% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -43% lower |
In Holmes County, FL, modeled annual costs are $43,802 compared with $64,604 in St. Johns County, FL.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Holmes County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Holmes County, FL is not a metropolitan location, while St. Johns County, FL is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
