Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, NY would need to be about $32,405 in Yates County, NY, or $17,595 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Suffolk County, NY vs Yates County, NY: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Yates County, NY is cheaper than Suffolk County, NY.
Moving to Yates County, NY is estimated to save $27,005 per year.
Cheaper County
Yates County, NYSave about $27,005 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Suffolk County, NY is about $32,405 in Yates County, NY.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $223 per year. Housing saves $13,020 per year.
Housing: $13,020 lower in Yates County, NY
Taxes: $9,021 lower in Yates County, NY
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $812 lower in Yates County, NY
Food: $254 lower in Yates County, NY
Transport: $223 higher in Yates County, NY
Suffolk County, NY→Yates County, NY
Equivalent salary in Yates County, NY
$32,405
-35.19% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Suffolk County, NY: $147,792
Median Income in Yates County, NY: $82,228
Living Index in Suffolk County, NY 51.92%
Living Index in Yates County, NY 60.48%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Suffolk County, NY to Yates 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 Yates County, NY is estimated to save $27,005 per year. A $50,000 salary in Suffolk County, NY would have similar purchasing power to about $32,405 in Yates County, NY. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -35.19% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,020 per year lower (-58.78%); Taxes is $9,021 per year lower (-47.27%).
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 Yates 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 60.5% in Yates County, NY. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,020 per year lower in Yates 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 Yates County, NY changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $254 per year lower in Yates County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Yates County, NY can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $223 per year higher in Yates 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 Yates County, NY.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $812 per year lower in Yates County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Yates County, NY changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,121 per year lower in Yates County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Yates 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 Yates County, NY, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Yates County, NY, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $9,021 per year lower in Yates County, NY than in Suffolk County, NY. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Yates 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 Yates County, NY.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Yates County, NY
Annual Increase:
$223 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Yates County, NY.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Yates County, NY
Annual Savings:
$13,020 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Yates County, NY.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -59% lower | |
| Food | -5% lower | |
| Transport | 2% higher | |
| Healthcare | -10% lower | |
| Other Costs | -49% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -47% lower |
In Yates County, NY, modeled annual costs are $49,735 compared with $76,740 in Suffolk County, NY.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Yates County, NY. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Yates County, NY and Suffolk County, NY are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
