Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 6% higher in Newark, DE. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,649
+46% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,391
+21% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$1,513
+9% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$1,916
+24% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$357,600
+34% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$71,373
+7% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$54,310
+11% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
22.0 yr
+14.4 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
57.4%
50.3%
+7.1 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
57.5%
+25.7 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
24.1 min
19.6 min
+4.5 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
558.4
326.3
+42% in Jacksonville, FL
Property Crime
2,600.1
2,024.6
+22% 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
54.9°F
+15.3°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
43.1 in
+6.1 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.83/gal
$3.94/gal
+3% in Newark, DE

Area: Florida vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
19.3
+28% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$29.73
+26% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.60%
+6.6 pp in DE

Jacksonville vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Newark?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Newark?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).