Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Juneau?

Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Juneau?

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

Jacksonville vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 33% higher in Juneau, AK. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$993

+12% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,146

$1,257

+10% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,385

$1,647

+19% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,545

$1,949

+26% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,100

$432,500

+63% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$66,981

$100,513

+50% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,830

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

39.8 yr

+3.4 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

57.4%

64.4%

+7.0 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.8%

40.5%

+8.7 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

24.1 min

15.8 min

+8.3 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

558.4

515.6

+8% in Jacksonville, FL

Property Crime

2,600.1

2,113.1

+19% 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

70.2°F

42.1°F

+28.1°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

49.2 in

62.3 in

+13.1 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.83/gal

$5.21/gal

+36% in Juneau, AK

Area: Florida vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

28.2

+87% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.62

$17.35

+27% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jacksonville, FL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Juneau, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / AK)

None

+6.0 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Jacksonville vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Juneau?: Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Juneau?: Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).