Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Jacksonville?

Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.

Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Jacksonville?

Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Cincinnati vs Jacksonville Cost of Living 2026

Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 23% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH

Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio

$791

$1,127

+42% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$817

$1,146

+40% in Jacksonville, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,023

$1,385

+35% in Jacksonville, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,228

$1,545

+26% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$215,300

$266,100

+24% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$51,707

$66,981

+30% in Jacksonville, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,170

$48,830

+3% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

36.4 yr

+3.4 yr in Jacksonville, FL

Homeownership

38.9%

57.4%

+18.5 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.3%

31.8%

+9.5 pp in Cincinnati, OH

Avg Commute

23.1 min

24.1 min

+1.0 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

856.5

558.4

+35% in Cincinnati, OH

Property Crime

3,877.7

2,600.1

+33% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

54.3°F

70.2°F

+15.9°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

41.9 in

49.2 in

+7.3 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.77/gal

+10% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

15.2

+22% in Cincinnati, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$23.62

+3% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cincinnati, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Jacksonville, FL

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Cincinnati, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Cincinnati, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Cincinnati, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / FL)

5.75%

+0.3 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

None

+2.8 pp in OH

Cincinnati vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Jacksonville?: Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Jacksonville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Jacksonville?: Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).