Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Jacksonville?

Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Jacksonville?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Jacksonville?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Jacksonville Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 9% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,127

+4% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,146

+3% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,385

+2% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,545

+15% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$266,100

+4% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$66,981

+9% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$48,830

+5% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

36.4 yr

+2.8 yr in Jacksonville, FL

Homeownership

54.8%

57.4%

+2.6 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

31.8%

+1.3 pp in Arlington, TX

Avg Commute

26.7 min

24.1 min

+2.6 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

492.4

557.6

+13% in Jacksonville, FL

Property Crime

2,433.5

2,599.5

+7% in Jacksonville, FL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

70.2°F

+4.8°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

49.2 in

+9.6 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.25/gal

+8% in Jacksonville, FL

Area: Texas vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs JTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$23.62

+4% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.73

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / FL)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Arlington vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Jacksonville?: Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Arlington, TX's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Jacksonville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Jacksonville?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).