Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $32,050 in Duval County, FL, or $17,950 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, MA vs Duval County, FL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Duval County, FL is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Duval County, FL is estimated to save $29,357 per year.
Cheaper County
Duval County, FLSave about $29,357 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $32,050 in Duval County, FL.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $427 per year. Taxes saves $11,937 per year.
Housing: $11,865 lower in Duval County, FL
Taxes: $11,937 lower in Duval County, FL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $427 higher in Duval County, FL
Food: $761 lower in Duval County, FL
Transport: $1,300 lower in Duval County, FL
Suffolk County, MA→Duval County, FL
Equivalent salary in Duval County, FL
$32,050
-35.9% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Duval County, FL: $83,238
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Duval County, FL 62.96%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Duval 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 Suffolk County, MA to Duval County, FL is estimated to save $29,357 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $32,050 in Duval County, FL. The largest savings come from taxes and housing.
This is a -35.9% decrease in modeled annual costs. Taxes is $11,937 per year lower (-58.65%); Housing is $11,865 per year lower (-42.49%).
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 Duval County, FL, 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 63.0% in Duval County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $11,865 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Duval County, FL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $761 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Duval County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,300 per year lower in Duval County, FL 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 Duval County, FL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $427 per year higher in Duval County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Duval County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,920 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Duval County, FL 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 Duval County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Duval County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $11,937 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Duval 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 Duval County, FL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Duval County, FL
Annual Increase:
$427 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Duval County, FL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Duval County, FL
Annual Savings:
$11,937 per year
TAXES has the largest annual savings when moving to Duval County, FL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -42% lower | |
| Food | -15% lower | |
| Transport | -10% lower | |
| Healthcare | 8% higher | |
| Other Costs | -38% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -59% lower |
In Duval County, FL, modeled annual costs are $52,408 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Duval County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Duval County, FL and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
