Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would need to be about $35,260 in Worcester County, MA, or $14,740 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, MA vs Worcester County, MA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Worcester County, MA is cheaper than Suffolk County, MA.
Moving to Worcester County, MA is estimated to save $24,106 per year.
Cheaper County
Worcester County, MASave about $24,106 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, MA is about $35,260 in Worcester County, MA.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $2 per year. Housing saves $11,575 per year.
Housing: $11,575 lower in Worcester County, MA
Taxes: $8,231 lower in Worcester County, MA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2 higher in Worcester County, MA
Food: $450 lower in Worcester County, MA
Transport: $118 lower in Worcester County, MA
Suffolk County, MA→Worcester County, MA
Equivalent salary in Worcester County, MA
$35,260
-29.48% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, MA: $110,193
Median Income in Worcester County, MA: $116,982
Living Index in Suffolk County, MA 74.20%
Living Index in Worcester County, MA 49.29%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, MA to Worcester County, MA.
* 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 Worcester County, MA is estimated to save $24,106 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, MA would have similar purchasing power to about $35,260 in Worcester County, MA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -29.48% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $11,575 per year lower (-41.45%); Taxes is $8,231 per year lower (-40.44%).
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 Worcester County, MA, 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 49.3% in Worcester County, MA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $11,575 per year lower in Worcester County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Worcester County, MA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $450 per year lower in Worcester County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Worcester County, MA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $118 per year lower in Worcester County, MA 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 Worcester County, MA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2 per year higher in Worcester County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Worcester County, MA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,733 per year lower in Worcester County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Worcester County, MA 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 Worcester County, MA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Worcester County, MA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $8,231 per year lower in Worcester County, MA than in Suffolk County, MA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Worcester County, MA 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 Worcester County, MA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Worcester County, MA
Annual Increase:
$2 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Worcester County, MA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Worcester County, MA
Annual Savings:
$11,575 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Worcester County, MA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -41% lower | |
| Food | -9% lower | |
| Transport | -1% lower | |
| Healthcare | 0% higher | |
| Other Costs | -36% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -40% lower |
In Worcester County, MA, modeled annual costs are $57,659 compared with $81,765 in Suffolk County, MA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Worcester County, MA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Worcester County, MA and Suffolk County, MA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
