Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in St. Johns County, FL would need to be about $47,085 in Orange County, FL, or $2,915 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
St. Johns County, FL vs Orange County, FL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Orange County, FL is cheaper than St. Johns County, FL.
Moving to Orange County, FL is estimated to save $3,764 per year.
Cheaper County
Orange County, FLSave about $3,764 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in St. Johns County, FL is about $47,085 in Orange County, FL.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Orange County, FL. Taxes saves $1,066 per year.
Housing: $694 lower in Orange County, FL
Taxes: $1,066 lower in Orange County, FL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $182 lower in Orange County, FL
Food: $508 lower in Orange County, FL
Transport: $942 lower in Orange County, FL
St. Johns County, FL→Orange County, FL
Equivalent salary in Orange County, FL
$47,085
-5.83% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in St. Johns County, FL: $126,912
Median Income in Orange County, FL: $89,769
Living Index in St. Johns County, FL 50.90%
Living Index in Orange County, FL 67.77%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from St. Johns County, FL to Orange 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 Orange County, FL is estimated to save $3,764 per year. A $50,000 salary in St. Johns County, FL would have similar purchasing power to about $47,085 in Orange County, FL. The largest savings come from taxes and transport.
This is a -5.83% decrease in modeled annual costs. Taxes is $1,066 per year lower (-9.09%); Transport is $942 per year lower (-7.12%).
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 Orange 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 67.8% in Orange County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $694 per year lower in Orange 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 Orange County, FL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $508 per year lower in Orange County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Orange County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $942 per year lower in Orange 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 Orange County, FL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $182 per year lower in Orange County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Orange County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $373 per year lower in Orange County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Orange 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 Orange County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Orange County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $1,066 per year lower in Orange County, FL than in St. Johns County, FL. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Orange 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 Orange County, FL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Orange County, FL
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Orange County, FL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Orange County, FL
Annual Savings:
$1,066 per year
TAXES has the largest annual savings when moving to Orange County, FL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -3% lower | |
| Food | -10% lower | |
| Transport | -7% lower | |
| Healthcare | -3% lower | |
| Other Costs | -5% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -9% lower |
In Orange County, FL, modeled annual costs are $60,840 compared with $64,604 in St. Johns County, FL.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Orange County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Orange County, FL and St. Johns County, FL are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
