Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$1,990/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 $1,990 in New York City, NY. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 16% higher in New York City, NY. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,633
+45% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,705
+49% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$1,781
+29% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$2,065
+34% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$751,700
+182% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$79,713
+19% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$61,430
+26% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
38.0 yr
+1.6 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
57.4%
32.8%
+24.6 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
41.0%
+9.2 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
24.1 min
40.6 min
+16.5 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
557.6
690.9
+24% in New York City, NY
Property Crime
2,599.5
2,413.5
+7% 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
55.0°F
+15.2°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
49.9 in
+0.8 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$4.44/gal
+4% in New York City, NY

Area: Florida vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$3.00
+71% in New York City, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
28.6
+92% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$18.90
+20% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Jacksonville, FL
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.92
+11% in New York City, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in New York City, NY
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.90
+5% in New York City, NY
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.02
+6% in New York City, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.68
+11% in New York City, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / NY)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.90%
+10.9 pp in NY

Jacksonville vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or New York City?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below New York City, NY's $1,990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in New York City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or New York City?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).