Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Topeka?

Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Topeka?

Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Jacksonville vs Topeka Cost of Living 2026

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Topeka

Kansas

$940/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 $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 17% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL

Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$702

+38% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,146

$758

+34% in Jacksonville, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,385

$977

+29% in Jacksonville, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,545

$1,177

+24% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$266,100

$130,600

+51% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$66,981

$55,902

+17% in Jacksonville, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,830

$49,540

+1% in Topeka, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

38.2 yr

+1.8 yr in Topeka, KS

Homeownership

57.4%

59.2%

+1.8 pp in Topeka, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.8%

29.1%

+2.7 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Avg Commute

24.1 min

16.7 min

+7.4 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

558.4

856.5

+53% in Topeka, KS

Property Crime

2,600.1

3,660.2

+41% in Topeka, KS

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

55.1°F

+15.1°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

49.2 in

36.5 in

+12.7 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.83/gal

$3.85/gal

+1% in Topeka, KS

Area: Florida vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

15.7

+4% in Topeka, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.62

$25.12

+6% in Topeka, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Topeka, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Jacksonville, FL

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Topeka, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Topeka, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Topeka, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (FL / KS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.58%

+5.6 pp in KS

Jacksonville vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Topeka?: Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Topeka?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Topeka?: Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).