Median rent is 20% lower in Jacksonville ($1,465/mo vs $1,821/mo). Buying is cheaper in Jacksonville, where the median home runs $293,700 versus $777,600. Households earn more in New York ($80,483 vs $69,872 a year). Taken together, Jacksonville is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 99.6 against 112.6 — about 12% lower overall prices.
Cost of living verdict
Jacksonville is 12% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 99.6 in Jacksonville vs 112.6 in New York (US national average = 100)
City A
Jacksonville, FL
City B
New York, NY
How much would you need to earn in New York, NY to maintain your standard of living from Jacksonville, FL?
Equivalent salary in New York, NY
$84,785
You'd need $9,785 more (13% 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
New York
New York
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 $1,821/mo in New York (20% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in New York: the median home is $777,600 versus $293,700 in Jacksonville — 62% more expensive.
Metric
Jacksonville
New York
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
New York
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
New York has cleaner air on average: 46.0 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 112.6).
Pick New York if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,483/yr).
Pick Jacksonville if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,465/mo median).
Jacksonville is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 99.6 versus 112.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 12% lower in Jacksonville.
Median rent is $1,465/mo in Jacksonville, FL and $1,821/mo in New York, NY. Jacksonville, FL has the lower rent by about 20%.
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville, FL and $80,483 in New York, NY. New York, NY has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
New York, NY has better air quality on average: 46.0 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 $113,046 in New York, NY (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
