Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $35,745 in Hillsborough County, FL, or $14,255 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, MA vs Hillsborough County, FL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Hillsborough County, FL is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Hillsborough County, FL is estimated to save $23,309 per year.
Cheaper County
Hillsborough County, FLSave about $23,309 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $35,745 in Hillsborough County, FL.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $554 per year. Taxes saves $10,350 per year.
Housing: $8,611 lower in Hillsborough County, FL
Taxes: $10,350 lower in Hillsborough County, FL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $554 higher in Hillsborough County, FL
Food: $600 lower in Hillsborough County, FL
Transport: $1,442 lower in Hillsborough County, FL
Suffolk County, MA→Hillsborough County, FL
Equivalent salary in Hillsborough County, FL
$35,745
-28.51% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Hillsborough County, FL: $91,253
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Hillsborough County, FL 64.06%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County, FL is estimated to save $23,309 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $35,745 in Hillsborough County, FL. The largest savings come from taxes and housing.
This is a -28.51% decrease in modeled annual costs. Taxes is $10,350 per year lower (-50.85%); Housing is $8,611 per year lower (-30.84%).
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 Hillsborough 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 64.1% in Hillsborough County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $8,611 per year lower in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County, FL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $600 per year lower in Hillsborough County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Hillsborough County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,442 per year lower in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County, FL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $554 per year higher in Hillsborough County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Hillsborough County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,860 per year lower in Hillsborough County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Hillsborough County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $10,350 per year lower in Hillsborough County, FL than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County, FL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Hillsborough County, FL
Annual Increase:
$554 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Hillsborough County, FL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Hillsborough County, FL
Annual Savings:
$10,350 per year
TAXES has the largest annual savings when moving to Hillsborough County, FL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -31% lower | |
| Food | -12% lower | |
| Transport | -11% lower | |
| Healthcare | 11% higher | |
| Other Costs | -28% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -51% lower |
In Hillsborough County, FL, modeled annual costs are $58,456 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Hillsborough County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Hillsborough County, FL and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
