Median rent is 17% lower in Jacksonville ($1,465/mo vs $1,758/mo). Buying is cheaper in Jacksonville, where the median home runs $293,700 versus $518,100. Households earn more in Jacksonville ($69,872 vs $62,462 a year). Taken together, Jacksonville is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 99.6 against 112.1 — about 11% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Jacksonville, FL.
Cost of living verdict
Jacksonville is 11% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 99.6 in Jacksonville vs 112.1 in Miami (US national average = 100)
City A
Jacksonville, FL
City B
Miami, FL
How much would you need to earn in Miami, FL to maintain your standard of living from Jacksonville, FL?
Equivalent salary in Miami, FL
$84,365
You'd need $9,365 more (12% higher).
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
Jacksonville
Florida
Miami
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 Jacksonville at $1,465/mo compared to $1,758/mo in Miami (17% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Miami: the median home is $518,100 versus $293,700 in Jacksonville — 43% more expensive.
Metric
Jacksonville
Miami
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.
Jacksonville
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Miami
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Miami has cleaner air on average: 37.0 AQI (Good) compared to 51.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Jacksonville if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 99.6 vs 112.1).
Pick Jacksonville if you prioritize higher median household income ($69,872/yr).
Pick Jacksonville if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,465/mo median).
Pick Miami if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 37.0).
Jacksonville is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 99.6 versus 112.1 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 11% lower in Jacksonville.
Median rent is $1,465/mo in Jacksonville, FL and $1,758/mo in Miami, FL. Jacksonville, FL has the lower rent by about 17%.
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville, FL and $62,462 in Miami, FL. Jacksonville, FL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Miami, FL has better air quality on average: 37.0 AQI versus 51.0 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 Jacksonville, FL is equivalent to roughly $112,487 in Miami, 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
