Suffolk County, MA vs Washoe County, NV: Cost of Living Difference

Is it cheaper?

Washoe County, NV is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.

Moving to Washoe County, NV is estimated to save $30,692 per year.

Cheaper cost of living

Cheaper County

Washoe County, NVSave about $30,692 per year.

Salary needed

$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $31,230 in Washoe County, NV.

Biggest drivers

Healthcare increases by $650 per year. Housing saves $13,750 per year.

Housing: $13,750 lower in Washoe County, NV

Taxes: $12,200 lower in Washoe County, NV

Childcare: about the same in both counties

Healthcare: $650 higher in Washoe County, NV

Food: $392 lower in Washoe County, NV

Transport: $608 lower in Washoe County, NV

Suffolk County, MAWashoe County, NV
Equivalent salary in Washoe County, NV
$31,230
-37.54% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Washoe County, NV: $103,098
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Washoe County, NV 49.54%

This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Washoe County, NV.

* 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 Washoe County, NV is estimated to save $30,692 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $31,230 in Washoe County, NV. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.

This is a -37.54% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,750 per year lower (-49.24%); Taxes is $12,200 per year lower (-59.94%).

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 Washoe County, NV, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.

Salary needed

A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $31,230 in Washoe County, NV, or $18,770 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.

Affordability vs median income

Modeled annual costs equal about 74.2% of median family income in Suffolk County, MA and 49.5% in Washoe County, NV. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.

Housing

Housing is $13,750 per year lower in Washoe County, NV than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Washoe County, NV changes their baseline budget.

Food

Food is $392 per year lower in Washoe County, NV than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Washoe County, NV can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.

Transportation

Transportation is $608 per year lower in Washoe County, NV 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 Washoe County, NV.

Healthcare

Healthcare is $650 per year higher in Washoe County, NV than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Washoe County, NV changes provider networks or plan options.

Other necessities

Other necessities is $4,391 per year lower in Washoe County, NV than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Washoe County, NV 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 Washoe County, NV, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Washoe County, NV, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.

Taxes

Taxes is $12,200 per year lower in Washoe County, NV than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Washoe County, NV 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 Washoe County, NV.

Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Washoe County, NV
Annual Increase:

$650 per year

HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Washoe County, NV.

Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Washoe County, NV
Annual Savings:

$13,750 per year

HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Washoe County, NV.

Breakdown of price percentages per category.

Numbers are average costs per section.

CategoryDifference
Housing-49% lower
Food-8% lower
Transport-5% lower
Healthcare13% higher
Other Costs-43% lower
Childcare0% higher
Taxes-60% lower

In Washoe County, NV, modeled annual costs are $51,073 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.

Overall, annual costs are lower in Washoe County, NV. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.

In this case Washoe County, NV and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.

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Cost of living methodology and data sources
Suffolk County, MA vs Washoe County, NV Cost of Living (2026)