Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 6% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,183
+5% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,195
+4% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$1,374
+1% in Jacksonville, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$1,447
+6% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$328,100
+23% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$62,671
+6% in Jacksonville, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$51,460
+5% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.5 yr
+1.9 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
57.4%
43.5%
+13.9 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
44.1%
+12.3 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
22.1 min
+2.0 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
558.4
349
+38% in Jacksonville, FL
Property Crime
2,600.1
3,240.2
+25% in Richmond, VA

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
58.9°F
+11.3°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
43.6 in
+5.6 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.77/gal
$3.86/gal
+3% in Richmond, VA

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
17.6
+16% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$23.66
+0% in Richmond, VA

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 / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.75%
+5.8 pp in VA

Jacksonville vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Richmond?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Richmond?
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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Richmond?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).