Median rent is 7% lower in Houston ($1,361/mo vs $1,465/mo). Buying is cheaper in Houston, where the median home runs $277,800 versus $293,700. Households earn more in Jacksonville ($69,872 vs $64,813 a year). Taken together, Jacksonville is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 99.6 against 99.7 — about 0% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Jacksonville, FL.
City A
Houston, TX
City B
Jacksonville, FL
How much would you need to earn in Jacksonville, FL to maintain your standard of living from Houston, TX?
Equivalent salary in Jacksonville, FL
$74,933
You could earn $67 less (0% 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
Houston
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 rent is modestly lower in Houston at $1,361/mo compared to $1,465/mo in Jacksonville (7% gap). Median home values are within 5% of each other: $277,800 in Houston and $293,700 in Jacksonville.
Metric
Houston
Jacksonville
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Houston
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Jacksonville
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Jacksonville has cleaner air on average: 51.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 59.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Jacksonville if you prioritize higher median household income ($69,872/yr).
Pick Jacksonville if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 51.0).
Jacksonville is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 99.6 versus 99.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Jacksonville.
Median rent is $1,361/mo in Houston, TX and $1,465/mo in Jacksonville, FL. Houston, TX has the lower rent by about 7%.
Median household income is $64,813 in Houston, TX and $69,872 in Jacksonville, FL. Jacksonville, FL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Jacksonville, FL has better air quality on average: 51.0 AQI versus 59.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Houston, TX is equivalent to roughly $99,911 in Jacksonville, FL (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
