Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/mo est.

vs
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,440 in Chicago, IL versus $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 11% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$1,127
+5% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,146
+9% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,385
+1% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,545
+1% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$266,100
+16% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$66,981
+11% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$48,830
+11% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
36.4 yr
+0.7 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
45.5%
57.4%
+11.9 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
31.8%
+11.5 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
24.1 min
+9.4 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
557.6
+3% in Jacksonville, FL
Property Crime
3,489.9
2,599.5
+26% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
70.2°F
+17.5°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
49.2 in
+11.2 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.82/gal
$4.25/gal
+12% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.75
+30% in Chicago, IL

Adult base one-way fare — CTA vs JTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.9
14.9
+21% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.10
$23.62
+95% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Jacksonville, FL
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Chicago, IL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Chicago, IL

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / FL)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
None
+5.0 pp in IL

Chicago vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Jacksonville?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Chicago, IL's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Jacksonville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Jacksonville?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).