Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $32,300 in Bristol County, MA, or $17,700 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, MA vs Bristol County, MA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Bristol County, MA is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Bristol County, MA is estimated to save $28,942 per year.
Cheaper County
Bristol County, MASave about $28,942 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $32,300 in Bristol County, MA.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Bristol County, MA. Housing saves $13,004 per year.
Housing: $13,004 lower in Bristol County, MA
Taxes: $9,738 lower in Bristol County, MA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $120 lower in Bristol County, MA
Food: $669 lower in Bristol County, MA
Transport: $1,165 lower in Bristol County, MA
Suffolk County, MA→Bristol County, MA
Equivalent salary in Bristol County, MA
$32,300
-35.4% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Bristol County, MA: $107,459
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Bristol County, MA 49.16%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Bristol 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 Suffolk County, MA to Bristol County, MA is estimated to save $28,942 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $32,300 in Bristol County, MA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -35.4% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,004 per year lower (-46.57%); Taxes is $9,738 per year lower (-47.85%).
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 Suffolk County, MA and Bristol County, MA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 74.2% of median family income in Suffolk County, MA and 49.2% in Bristol County, MA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,004 per year lower in Bristol County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Bristol County, MA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $669 per year lower in Bristol County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Bristol County, MA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,165 per year lower in Bristol County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Bristol County, MA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $120 per year lower in Bristol County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Bristol County, MA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,245 per year lower in Bristol County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Bristol County, MA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Suffolk County, MA and Bristol County, MA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Bristol County, MA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $9,738 per year lower in Bristol County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Bristol 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 Bristol County, MA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Bristol County, MA
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Bristol County, MA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Bristol County, MA
Annual Savings:
$13,004 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Bristol County, MA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -47% lower | |
| Food | -13% lower | |
| Transport | -9% lower | |
| Healthcare | -2% lower | |
| Other Costs | -41% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -48% lower |
In Bristol County, MA, modeled annual costs are $52,823 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Bristol County, MA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Bristol County, MA and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
