Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Williamson County, TN would need to be about $31,895 in Union County, TN, or $18,105 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Williamson County, TN vs Union County, TN: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Union County, TN is cheaper than Williamson County, TN.
Moving to Union County, TN is estimated to save $26,681 per year.
Cheaper County
Union County, TNSave about $26,681 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Williamson County, TN is about $31,895 in Union County, TN.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Union County, TN. Housing saves $13,486 per year.
Housing: $13,486 lower in Union County, TN
Taxes: $7,056 lower in Union County, TN
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $732 lower in Union County, TN
Food: $819 lower in Union County, TN
Transport: $146 lower in Union County, TN
Williamson County, TN→Union County, TN
Equivalent salary in Union County, TN
$31,895
-36.21% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Williamson County, TN: $153,397
Median Income in Union County, TN: $71,211
Living Index in Williamson County, TN 48.03%
Living Index in Union County, TN 66.00%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Williamson County, TN to Union County, TN.
* 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 Williamson County, TN to Union County, TN is estimated to save $26,681 per year. A $50,000 salary in Williamson County, TN would have similar purchasing power to about $31,895 in Union County, TN. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -36.21% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $13,486 per year lower (-54.2%); Taxes is $7,056 per year lower (-48.98%).
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 Williamson County, TN and Union County, TN, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 48.0% of median family income in Williamson County, TN and 66.0% in Union County, TN. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $13,486 per year lower in Union County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Union County, TN changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $819 per year lower in Union County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Union County, TN can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $146 per year lower in Union County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Union County, TN.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $732 per year lower in Union County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Union County, TN changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,442 per year lower in Union County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Union County, TN help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Williamson County, TN and Union County, TN, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Union County, TN, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $7,056 per year lower in Union County, TN than in Williamson County, TN. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Union County, TN 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 Union County, TN.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Union County, TN
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Union County, TN.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Union County, TN
Annual Savings:
$13,486 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Union County, TN.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -54% lower | |
| Food | -16% lower | |
| Transport | -1% lower | |
| Healthcare | -12% lower | |
| Other Costs | -48% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -49% lower |
In Union County, TN, modeled annual costs are $46,998 compared with $73,679 in Williamson County, TN.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Union County, TN. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Union County, TN and Williamson County, TN are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
