Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Jacksonville?

Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Jacksonville?

Dallas 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).

Dallas vs Jacksonville Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Dallas, TX versus $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 1% higher in Dallas, 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.

Dallas, TX

Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$1,127

+10% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,146

+10% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,385

+8% in Dallas, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,545

+1% in Dallas, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$266,100

+10% in Dallas, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$66,981

+1% in Dallas, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$48,830

+5% in Dallas, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

36.4 yr

+3.0 yr in Jacksonville, FL

Homeownership

42.4%

57.4%

+15.0 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

31.8%

+5.6 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

24.1 min

+1.9 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.7

557.6

+16% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,411.8

2,599.5

+24% in Dallas, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

70.2°F

+3.0°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

49.2 in

+11.6 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)

$2.50

$1.75

+30% in Dallas, TX

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Dallas, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$23.62

+4% in Dallas, 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

Dallas vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Jacksonville?: Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Dallas, TX's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Jacksonville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Jacksonville?: Dallas 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).