Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, NY would need to be about $30,920 in Orleans County, NY, or $19,080 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, NY vs Orleans County, NY: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Orleans County, NY is cheaper than Suffolk County, NY.
Moving to Orleans County, NY is estimated to save $29,285 per year.
Cheaper County
Orleans County, NYSave about $29,285 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, NY is about $30,920 in Orleans County, NY.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Orleans County, NY. Housing saves $12,382 per year.
Housing: $12,382 lower in Orleans County, NY
Taxes: $9,606 lower in Orleans County, NY
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $2,012 lower in Orleans County, NY
Food: $738 lower in Orleans County, NY
Transport: $471 lower in Orleans County, NY
Suffolk County, NY→Orleans County, NY
Equivalent salary in Orleans County, NY
$30,920
-38.16% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, NY: $147,792
Median Income in Orleans County, NY: $83,039
Living Index in Suffolk County, NY 51.92%
Living Index in Orleans County, NY 57.15%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, NY to Orleans County, NY.
* 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, NY to Orleans County, NY is estimated to save $29,285 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, NY would have similar purchasing power to about $30,920 in Orleans County, NY. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -38.16% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $12,382 per year lower (-55.9%); Taxes is $9,606 per year lower (-50.33%).
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, NY and Orleans County, NY, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 51.9% of median family income in Suffolk County, NY and 57.1% in Orleans County, NY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $12,382 per year lower in Orleans County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Orleans County, NY changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $738 per year lower in Orleans County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Orleans County, NY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $471 per year lower in Orleans County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Orleans County, NY.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $2,012 per year lower in Orleans County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Orleans County, NY changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,074 per year lower in Orleans County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Orleans County, NY help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Suffolk County, NY and Orleans County, NY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Orleans County, NY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $9,606 per year lower in Orleans County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Orleans County, NY 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 Orleans County, NY.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Orleans County, NY
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Orleans County, NY.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Orleans County, NY
Annual Savings:
$12,382 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Orleans County, NY.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -56% lower | |
| Food | -15% lower | |
| Transport | -3% lower | |
| Healthcare | -25% lower | |
| Other Costs | -49% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -50% lower |
In Orleans County, NY, modeled annual costs are $47,455 compared with $76,740 in Suffolk County, NY.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Orleans County, NY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Orleans County, NY and Suffolk County, NY are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
