Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Reno?

Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Reno?

Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Jacksonville vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 15% higher in Reno, NV. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$964

+14% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,146

$1,206

+5% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,385

$1,518

+10% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,545

$1,885

+22% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,100

$498,600

+87% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$66,981

$78,448

+17% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,830

$49,660

+2% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

37.3 yr

+0.9 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

57.4%

49.4%

+8.0 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.8%

35.7%

+3.9 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

24.1 min

20.6 min

+3.5 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

558.4

528.9

+5% in Jacksonville, FL

Property Crime

2,600.1

2,489.3

+4% 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

53.8°F

+16.4°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

49.2 in

7.4 in

+41.8 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.77/gal

$5.09/gal

+35% in Reno, NV

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)

15.2

13.6

+10% in Jacksonville, FL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.62

$12.09

+49% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jacksonville, FL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / NV)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Jacksonville vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Reno?: Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Reno?: Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).