Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Rochester?

Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Jacksonville vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 24% higher in Rochester, MN. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$1,080

+4% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,146

$1,106

+3% in Jacksonville, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,385

$1,243

+10% in Jacksonville, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,545

$1,646

+7% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,100

$287,500

+8% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$66,981

$87,767

+31% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,830

$60,620

+24% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

about equal

Homeownership

57.4%

65.4%

+8.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.8%

50.1%

+18.3 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

24.1 min

17.2 min

+6.9 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

558.4

158.9

+72% in Jacksonville, FL

Property Crime

2,600.1

1,379

+47% 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

45.4°F

+24.8°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

49.2 in

33.0 in

+16.2 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.77/gal

$3.95/gal

+5% in Rochester, MN

Area: Florida vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

16.9

+12% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.62

$14.95

+37% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Jacksonville, FL

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Rochester, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / MN)

6.875%

+0.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Jacksonville vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Rochester?: Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).