Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $29,935 in Erie County, NY, or $20,065 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, MA vs Erie County, NY: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Erie County, NY is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Erie County, NY is estimated to save $32,812 per year.
Cheaper County
Erie County, NYSave about $32,812 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $29,935 in Erie County, NY.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,010 per year. Housing saves $16,009 per year.
Housing: $16,009 lower in Erie County, NY
Taxes: $10,488 lower in Erie County, NY
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,010 higher in Erie County, NY
Food: $508 lower in Erie County, NY
Transport: $1,690 lower in Erie County, NY
Suffolk County, MA→Erie County, NY
Equivalent salary in Erie County, NY
$29,935
-40.13% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Erie County, NY: $96,230
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Erie County, NY 50.87%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Erie County, NY.
* 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 Erie County, NY is estimated to save $32,812 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $29,935 in Erie County, NY. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -40.13% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $16,009 per year lower (-57.33%); Taxes is $10,488 per year lower (-51.53%).
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 Erie County, NY, 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 50.9% in Erie County, NY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $16,009 per year lower in Erie County, NY than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Erie County, NY changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $508 per year lower in Erie County, NY than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Erie County, NY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,690 per year lower in Erie County, NY 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 Erie County, NY.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,010 per year higher in Erie County, NY than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Erie County, NY changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $5,128 per year lower in Erie County, NY than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Erie County, NY 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 Erie County, NY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Erie County, NY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $10,488 per year lower in Erie County, NY than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Erie County, NY 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 Erie County, NY.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Erie County, NY
Annual Increase:
$1,010 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Erie County, NY.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Erie County, NY
Annual Savings:
$16,009 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Erie County, NY.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -57% lower | |
| Food | -10% lower | |
| Transport | -13% lower | |
| Healthcare | 20% higher | |
| Other Costs | -50% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -52% lower |
In Erie County, NY, modeled annual costs are $48,953 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Erie County, NY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Erie County, NY and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
