How Much Does it Cost to Live in Every U.S. County?

The Economic Policy Institute has mapped out how much income a typical family of four (two adults and two children) needs to achieve a “modest yet adequate standard of living” in counties across the United States. The EPI's Family Budget Map breaks down costs into seven essential categories: housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, other necessities, and taxes.

Load the map, zoom into any county, and you’ll see how much money you would need to maintain a reasonable standard of living in that county. The map provides information on the overall yearly and monthly costs and also provides a breakdown of the costs in each of the seven counties.

The Family Budget Map is powered by EPI’s 2025 Family Budget Calculator, which uses the latest reliable data (mostly from 2024) to estimate real-world living costs for an average family. The map includes all 3,143 counties and 613 HUD fair market rent metro areas, ensuring that both rural and urban cost differences are captured. Each estimate incorporates detailed, real-world assumptions: both adults are working, children are assigned specific ages, and expenses like taxes and child care are modeled consistently across locations.

The EPI's Family Budget Calculator allows you to view county 'adequate standard of living' costs for ten different family types - allowing you to enter the number of adults and children in your family.