Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in St. Johns County, FL would need to be about $37,230 in Leon County, FL, or $12,770 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
St. Johns County, FL vs Leon County, FL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Leon County, FL is cheaper than St. Johns County, FL.
Moving to Leon County, FL is estimated to save $16,501 per year.
Cheaper County
Leon County, FLSave about $16,501 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in St. Johns County, FL is about $37,230 in Leon County, FL.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Leon County, FL. Housing saves $7,324 per year.
Housing: $7,324 lower in Leon County, FL
Taxes: $4,162 lower in Leon County, FL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $796 lower in Leon County, FL
Food: $473 lower in Leon County, FL
Transport: $1,324 lower in Leon County, FL
St. Johns County, FL→Leon County, FL
Equivalent salary in Leon County, FL
$37,230
-25.54% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in St. Johns County, FL: $126,912
Median Income in Leon County, FL: $92,213
Living Index in St. Johns County, FL 50.90%
Living Index in Leon County, FL 52.17%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from St. Johns County, FL to Leon 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 Leon County, FL is estimated to save $16,501 per year. A $50,000 salary in St. Johns County, FL would have similar purchasing power to about $37,230 in Leon County, FL. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -25.54% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $7,324 per year lower (-35.58%); Taxes is $4,162 per year lower (-35.48%).
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 Leon 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 52.2% in Leon County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $7,324 per year lower in Leon 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 Leon County, FL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $473 per year lower in Leon County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Leon County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,324 per year lower in Leon 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 Leon County, FL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $796 per year lower in Leon County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Leon County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,421 per year lower in Leon County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Leon 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 Leon County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Leon County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,162 per year lower in Leon County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Leon 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 Leon County, FL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Leon County, FL
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Leon County, FL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Leon County, FL
Annual Savings:
$7,324 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Leon County, FL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -36% lower | |
| Food | -9% lower | |
| Transport | -10% lower | |
| Healthcare | -13% lower | |
| Other Costs | -30% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -35% lower |
In Leon County, FL, modeled annual costs are $48,103 compared with $64,604 in St. Johns County, FL.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Leon County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Leon County, FL and St. Johns County, FL are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
