Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would need to be about $40,770 in Duval County, FL, or $9,230 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Wake County, NC vs Duval County, FL: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Duval County, FL is cheaper than Wake County, NC.
Moving to Duval County, FL is estimated to save $11,861 per year.
Cheaper County
Duval County, FLSave about $11,861 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Wake County, NC is about $40,770 in Duval County, FL.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $53 per year. Taxes saves $5,972 per year.
Housing: $3,307 lower in Duval County, FL
Taxes: $5,972 lower in Duval County, FL
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $53 higher in Duval County, FL
Food: $369 lower in Duval County, FL
Transport: $1,124 lower in Duval County, FL
Wake County, NC→Duval County, FL
Equivalent salary in Duval County, FL
$40,770
-18.46% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Wake County, NC: $128,556
Median Income in Duval County, FL: $83,238
Living Index in Wake County, NC 49.99%
Living Index in Duval County, FL 62.96%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Wake County, NC to Duval County, FL.
* 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 Wake County, NC to Duval County, FL is estimated to save $11,861 per year. A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would have similar purchasing power to about $40,770 in Duval County, FL. The largest savings come from taxes and housing.
This is a -18.46% decrease in modeled annual costs. Taxes is $5,972 per year lower (-41.51%); Housing is $3,307 per year lower (-17.08%).
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 Wake County, NC and Duval County, FL, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.0% of median family income in Wake County, NC and 63.0% in Duval County, FL. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $3,307 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Wake County, NC. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Duval County, FL changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $369 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Wake County, NC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Duval County, FL can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,124 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Wake County, NC. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Duval County, FL.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $53 per year higher in Duval County, FL than in Wake County, NC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Duval County, FL changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $1,141 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Wake County, NC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Duval County, FL help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Wake County, NC and Duval County, FL, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Duval County, FL, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,972 per year lower in Duval County, FL than in Wake County, NC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Duval County, FL 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 Duval County, FL.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Duval County, FL
Annual Increase:
$53 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Duval County, FL.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Duval County, FL
Annual Savings:
$5,972 per year
TAXES has the largest annual savings when moving to Duval County, FL.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -17% lower | |
| Food | -8% lower | |
| Transport | -9% lower | |
| Healthcare | 1% higher | |
| Other Costs | -15% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -42% lower |
In Duval County, FL, modeled annual costs are $52,408 compared with $64,269 in Wake County, NC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Duval County, FL. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Duval County, FL and Wake County, NC are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
