Cost of Living in Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville, FL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Jacksonville, FL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Jacksonville, FL?
With a price level of 99.5 (U.S. average = 100), Jacksonville, FL is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 10% above average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 12% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Jacksonville, FL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 99.5 | −0.5% |
| Housing | 109.8 | +9.8% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 87.5 | −12.5% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Jacksonville, FL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,347 | $53,880/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,374 | $54,960/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,648 | $65,920/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,034 | $81,360/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,546 | $101,840/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Jacksonville, FL
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Jacksonville, FL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,800 | $34,159 |
| $60,000 | $59,700 | $50,149 |
| $80,000 | $79,600 | $64,829 |
| $100,000 | $99,500 | $78,828 |
| $150,000 | $149,200 | $113,244 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Florida 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Jacksonville, FL's median wage of $48,830 takes home about $3,451 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,374, which is 40% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,077 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Jacksonville, FL
- Federal income tax$3,680
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,027
- Medicare (1.45%)$708
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,415
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Jacksonville, FL
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Florida cities
Half of Florida’s 9,929,860 workers earn less than $47,880 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,290–$75,410 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Tallahassee, FL stretches a paycheck furthest, while Miami, FL is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $48,640 | 114.2 | $1,942 | 56% | $1,497 | $36,146 |
| Tampa, FL | $48,940 | 100.9 | $1,696 | 49% | $1,763 | $41,137 |
| Orlando, FL | $46,630 | 101.4 | $1,731 | 52% | $1,573 | $39,093 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $48,830 | 99.5 | $1,374 | 40% | $2,077 | $41,630 |
| North Port, FL | $47,440 | 102.4 | $1,686 | 50% | $1,672 | $39,347 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $46,780 | 102.3 | $1,638 | 49% | $1,676 | $38,855 |
| Lakeland, FL | $46,140 | 97.1 | $1,230 | 38% | $2,041 | $40,409 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $49,030 | 100.0 | $1,478 | 43% | $1,987 | $41,574 |
| Deltona, FL | $44,940 | 99.4 | $1,393 | 44% | $1,798 | $38,533 |
| Pensacola, FL | $46,240 | 97.7 | $1,257 | 38% | $2,021 | $40,253 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $46,520 | 93.9 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,104 | $42,120 |
| Naples, FL | $47,800 | 103.2 | $1,797 | 53% | $1,585 | $39,329 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,490 | 100.2 | $1,467 | 45% | $1,828 | $39,445 |
| Gainesville, FL | $47,020 | 96.7 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,137 | $41,310 |
| Crestview, FL | $47,510 | 97.0 | $1,492 | 44% | $1,871 | $41,589 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Jacksonville, FL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | 99.5 | $1,374 | $48,830 | 765,930 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 97.9 | $1,508 | $49,430 | 763,060 |
| Raleigh, NC | 98.2 | $1,596 | $51,990 | 743,120 |
| Providence, RI | 101.8 | $1,423 | $53,680 | 714,120 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 96.9 | $1,119 | $51,160 | 820,780 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 100.9 | $1,426 | $55,240 | 826,210 |
| Louisville, KY | 93.1 | $1,026 | $48,370 | 685,190 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jacksonville, FL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Jacksonville, FL metro area are 99.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 109.8%. It is the #95 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Jacksonville, FL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $59,690 in Jacksonville, FL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $48,830.
Can you afford Jacksonville, FL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $48,830 median wage takes home about $3,451 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,374 would take 40% of that.
How much is rent in Jacksonville, FL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Jacksonville, FL are $1,347 for a studio, $1,374 for one bedroom, $1,648 for two bedrooms and $2,034 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Jacksonville, FL
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $169,010
- Financial Manager — $138,780
- Sales Manager — $133,460
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $121,660
- Construction Manager — $107,200
- Managers, All Other — $106,620
- General and Operations Manager — $100,870
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $99,270
- Management Analyst — $83,220
- Accountant and Auditor — $79,960
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $79,440
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $76,740
- Training and Development Specialist — $72,800
- Human Resources Specialist — $71,850
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $130,330
- Computer Systems Analyst — $102,230
- Computer User Support Specialist — $59,340
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $127,920
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,650
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,630
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,080
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $36,330
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $35,470
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $83,520
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $62,070
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,180
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $42,600
- Nursing Assistant — $37,760
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,380
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,810
- Security Guard — $35,340
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,430
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,770
- Food Preparation Worker — $36,730
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,630
- Bartender — $35,450
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,290
- Dishwasher — $32,150
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,440
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $37,320
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $35,450
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $32,260
Sales and Related Occupations
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $76,610
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $61,550
- Insurance Sales Agent — $61,490
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $61,160
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $49,240
- Retail Salesperson — $34,360
- Cashier — $30,320
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $65,590
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,860
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $45,800
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $44,940
- Office Clerks, General — $44,880
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $43,880
- Customer Service Representative — $42,840
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $36,760
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,760
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $58,920
- Electrician — $58,280
- Carpenter — $50,540
- Construction Laborer — $43,480
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $77,250
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $58,590
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $51,530
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $47,380
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,590
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,420
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $55,630
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $50,670
- Light Truck Driver — $41,840
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,040
- Stocker and Order Filler — $38,110
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $29,750