Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 4% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,109
+2% in Jacksonville, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,079
+6% in Jacksonville, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$1,269
+8% in Jacksonville, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$1,450
+6% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$193,200
+27% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$64,137
+4% in Jacksonville, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$49,650
+2% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
33.5 yr
+2.9 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
57.4%
47.2%
+10.2 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
47.8%
+16.0 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
23.1 min
+1.0 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
558.4
436
+22% in Jacksonville, FL
Property Crime
2,600.1
2,315.7
+11% 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
51.8°F
+18.4°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
39.3 in
+9.9 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.77/gal
$3.86/gal
+3% in Pittsburgh, PA

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)
15.2
21.6
+42% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$19.17
+19% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Pittsburgh, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Pittsburgh, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Jacksonville, FL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Pittsburgh, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Pittsburgh, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / PA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
3.07%
+3.1 pp in PA

Jacksonville vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Pittsburgh?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).