Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,010/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 $1,010 in El Paso, TX versus $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 12% higher in Jacksonville, FL. 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.

El Paso, TX
Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio
$707
$1,127
+59% in Jacksonville, FL
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,146
+40% in Jacksonville, FL
2 Bedroom
$993
$1,385
+39% in Jacksonville, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,545
+23% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$266,100
+55% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$66,981
+14% in Jacksonville, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$48,830
+24% in Jacksonville, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
36.4 yr
+2.3 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
60.2%
57.4%
+2.8 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
31.8%
+4.3 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Avg Commute
23.7 min
24.1 min
+0.4 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
557.6
+74% in Jacksonville, FL
Property Crime
1,509.3
2,599.5
+72% 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
64.6°F
70.2°F
+5.6°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
49.2 in
+39.5 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)
$1.50
$1.75
+17% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.9
+9% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$23.62
+4% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$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%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

El Paso vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Jacksonville?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Jacksonville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Jacksonville?
El Paso 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).