Median rent is 5% lower in Newark ($1,392/mo vs $1,465/mo). Buying is cheaper in Jacksonville, where the median home runs $293,700 versus $373,700. Households earn more in Jacksonville ($69,872 vs $52,060 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. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Jacksonville, FL.
Cost of living verdict
Jacksonville is 12% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 99.6 in Jacksonville vs 112.6 in Newark (US national average = 100)
City A
Jacksonville, FL
City B
Newark, NJ
How much would you need to earn in Newark, NJ to maintain your standard of living from Jacksonville, FL?
Equivalent salary in Newark, NJ
$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
Newark
New Jersey
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: $1,465/mo in Jacksonville and $1,392/mo in Newark. Home buyers face a steeper market in Newark: the median home is $373,700 versus $293,700 in Jacksonville — 21% more expensive.
Metric
Jacksonville
Newark
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
Newark
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Newark 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 Jacksonville if you prioritize higher median household income ($69,872/yr).
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 $1,392/mo in Newark, NJ. Newark, NJ has the lower rent by about 5%.
Median household income is $69,872 in Jacksonville, FL and $52,060 in Newark, NJ. Jacksonville, FL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Newark, NJ 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 Newark, NJ (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
