Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $27,810 in Lancaster County, NE, or $22,190 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, MA vs Lancaster County, NE: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Lancaster County, NE is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Lancaster County, NE is estimated to save $36,287 per year.
Cheaper County
Lancaster County, NESave about $36,287 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $27,810 in Lancaster County, NE.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,491 per year. Housing saves $18,145 per year.
Housing: $18,145 lower in Lancaster County, NE
Taxes: $11,874 lower in Lancaster County, NE
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,491 higher in Lancaster County, NE
Food: $761 lower in Lancaster County, NE
Transport: $1,129 lower in Lancaster County, NE
Suffolk County, MA→Lancaster County, NE
Equivalent salary in Lancaster County, NE
$27,810
-44.38% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Lancaster County, NE: $98,694
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Lancaster County, NE 46.08%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Lancaster County, NE.
* 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 Lancaster County, NE is estimated to save $36,287 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $27,810 in Lancaster County, NE. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -44.38% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $18,145 per year lower (-64.98%); Taxes is $11,874 per year lower (-58.34%).
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 Lancaster County, NE, 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 46.1% in Lancaster County, NE. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $18,145 per year lower in Lancaster County, NE than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Lancaster County, NE changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $761 per year lower in Lancaster County, NE than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Lancaster County, NE can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,129 per year lower in Lancaster County, NE 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 Lancaster County, NE.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,491 per year higher in Lancaster County, NE than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Lancaster County, NE changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $5,870 per year lower in Lancaster County, NE than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Lancaster County, NE 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 Lancaster County, NE, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Lancaster County, NE, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $11,874 per year lower in Lancaster County, NE than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Lancaster County, NE 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 Lancaster County, NE.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Lancaster County, NE
Annual Increase:
$1,491 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Lancaster County, NE.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Lancaster County, NE
Annual Savings:
$18,145 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Lancaster County, NE.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -65% lower | |
| Food | -15% lower | |
| Transport | -9% lower | |
| Healthcare | 30% higher | |
| Other Costs | -57% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -58% lower |
In Lancaster County, NE, modeled annual costs are $45,478 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Lancaster County, NE. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Lancaster County, NE and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
