Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,020/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 $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 45% higher in Seattle, WA. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,638
+45% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,858
+62% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$2,359
+70% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$2,918
+89% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$912,100
+243% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$121,984
+82% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$72,610
+49% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.5 yr
+0.9 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
57.4%
44.2%
+13.2 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
67.5%
+35.7 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
24.1 min
26.6 min
+2.5 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
557.6
787.3
+41% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
2,599.5
5,107.9
+96% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+16.7°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
37.7 in
+11.5 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$5.77/gal
+36% in Seattle, WA

Area: Florida vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.75
+57% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
14.4
+3% in Jacksonville, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$17.32
+27% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.37
+5% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$2.10
+21% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.25
+3% in Seattle, WA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$7.23
+10% in Seattle, WA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.14
+12% in Seattle, WA
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.74
+21% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / WA)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Jacksonville vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Seattle?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Seattle?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).