Median rent is 3% lower in Jacksonville ($1,465/mo vs $1,509/mo). Buying is cheaper in Jacksonville, where the median home runs $293,700 versus $303,000. Households earn more in Fort Worth ($79,507 vs $69,872 a year). Taken together, Jacksonville is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 99.6 against 102.5 — about 3% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Fort Worth, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Jacksonville is 3% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 99.6 in Jacksonville vs 102.5 in Fort Worth (US national average = 100)
City A
Fort Worth, TX
City B
Jacksonville, FL
How much would you need to earn in Jacksonville, FL to maintain your standard of living from Fort Worth, TX?
Equivalent salary in Jacksonville, FL
$72,918
You could earn $2,082 less (3% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Fort Worth
Texas
Jacksonville
Florida
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,509/mo in Fort Worth and $1,465/mo in Jacksonville. Median home values are within 3% of each other: $303,000 in Fort Worth and $293,700 in Jacksonville.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Fort Worth
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Jacksonville
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Jacksonville (avg AQI 51.0) but not yet for Fort Worth.
Pick Fort Worth if you prioritize higher median household income ($79,507/yr).
Is Fort Worth cheaper than Jacksonville?
Jacksonville is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 99.6 versus 102.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 3% lower in Jacksonville.
How much is rent in Fort Worth vs Jacksonville?
Median rent is $1,509/mo in Fort Worth, TX and $1,465/mo in Jacksonville, FL. Jacksonville, FL has the lower rent by about 3%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Worth or Jacksonville?
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth, TX and $69,872 in Jacksonville, FL. Fort Worth, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Worth or Jacksonville?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Jacksonville to match my Fort Worth income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Fort Worth, TX is equivalent to roughly $97,224 in Jacksonville, FL (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
