Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $29,650 in Jefferson County, KY, or $20,350 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, MA vs Jefferson County, KY: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Jefferson County, KY is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Jefferson County, KY is estimated to save $33,278 per year.
Cheaper County
Jefferson County, KYSave about $33,278 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $29,650 in Jefferson County, KY.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $244 per year. Housing saves $15,686 per year.
Housing: $15,686 lower in Jefferson County, KY
Taxes: $10,432 lower in Jefferson County, KY
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $244 higher in Jefferson County, KY
Food: $831 lower in Jefferson County, KY
Transport: $1,445 lower in Jefferson County, KY
Suffolk County, MA→Jefferson County, KY
Equivalent salary in Jefferson County, KY
$29,650
-40.7% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Jefferson County, KY: $88,392
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Jefferson County, KY 54.85%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Jefferson County, KY.
* 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 Jefferson County, KY is estimated to save $33,278 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $29,650 in Jefferson County, KY. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -40.7% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $15,686 per year lower (-56.17%); Taxes is $10,432 per year lower (-51.26%).
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 Jefferson County, KY, 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 54.9% in Jefferson County, KY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $15,686 per year lower in Jefferson County, KY than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Jefferson County, KY changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $831 per year lower in Jefferson County, KY than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Jefferson County, KY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,445 per year lower in Jefferson County, KY 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 Jefferson County, KY.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $244 per year higher in Jefferson County, KY than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Jefferson County, KY changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $5,128 per year lower in Jefferson County, KY than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Jefferson County, KY 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 Jefferson County, KY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Jefferson County, KY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $10,432 per year lower in Jefferson County, KY than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Jefferson County, KY 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 Jefferson County, KY.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Jefferson County, KY
Annual Increase:
$244 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Jefferson County, KY.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Jefferson County, KY
Annual Savings:
$15,686 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Jefferson County, KY.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -56% lower | |
| Food | -16% lower | |
| Transport | -11% lower | |
| Healthcare | 5% higher | |
| Other Costs | -50% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -51% lower |
In Jefferson County, KY, modeled annual costs are $48,487 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Jefferson County, KY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Jefferson County, KY and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
