CITY COMPARISON
NYC vs Jacksonville Cost of Living: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Data updated May 2026. Rent from Zillow ZORI, taxes from the Tax Foundation, cost-of-living index from BEA.
New York to Jacksonville is the bargain version of the New York-to-Florida move. Tampa and Miami get the headlines, but Jacksonville is meaningfully cheaper than either.
New York stacks a state and city income tax. Florida has none. Jacksonville rent is roughly half of New York's, and the overall cost of living runs below the national average. The school ratings are middling, which matters for families.
Is NYC or Jacksonville cheaper to live in?
At a $100,000 salary, moving from NYC to Jacksonville frees up roughly $38,300 a year in disposable income. At $150,000 the gap widens to about $41,800 a year in Jacksonville's favor.
Jacksonville wins on cost by a wide margin. No state income tax, rent at roughly half, and a cost of living below the national average. New York only competes when your career is anchored to the city in a way Jacksonville cannot replicate.
DISPOSABLE INCOME: MOVING NYC → JACKSONVILLE
AT A $100,000 SALARY
in Jacksonville's favor
AT A $150,000 SALARY
in Jacksonville's favor
Assumes the same gross salary in both cities (the remote-work case) and a single filer renting at the local median. Positive means Jacksonville leaves more money after tax, housing, and everyday costs.
Full cost breakdown: NYC vs Jacksonville
Here is where every dollar goes in each city, at two salary levels. Taxes, housing, and everyday costs are all in.
AT A $100,000 SALARY
| Line item | NYC | Jacksonville |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$15,000 | -$15,000 |
| State income tax (6.85%) Jacksonville: (0%) | -$6,850 | -$0 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$7,650 | -$7,650 |
| Housing (median rent) ($2,660/mo) Jacksonville: ($1,320/mo) | -$31,920 | -$15,840 |
| Other living costs (COL index 187) Jacksonville: (COL index 92) | -$43,050 | -$28,800 |
| Sales tax on spending (8.53%) Jacksonville: (7%) | -$2,571 | -$1,411 |
| Disposable income / year | -$7,041 | $31,299 |
AT A $150,000 SALARY
| Line item | NYC | Jacksonville |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$27,000 | -$27,000 |
| State income tax (6.85%) Jacksonville: (0%) | -$10,275 | -$0 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$11,475 | -$11,475 |
| Housing (median rent) ($2,660/mo) Jacksonville: ($1,320/mo) | -$31,920 | -$15,840 |
| Other living costs (COL index 187) Jacksonville: (COL index 92) | -$43,050 | -$28,800 |
| Sales tax on spending (8.53%) Jacksonville: (7%) | -$2,571 | -$1,411 |
| Disposable income / year | $23,709 | $65,474 |
NYC vs Jacksonville: taxes, rent, and schools at a glance
| Metric | NYC | Jacksonville |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 6.85% | None |
| Median 1-bedroom rent | $2,660/mo | $1,320/mo |
| Combined sales tax | 8.53% | 7% |
| Cost-of-living index (US avg = 100) | 187 | 92 |
| School composite rating (1-10) | 6/10 | 5/10 |
Who should pick NYC?
Stay in New York if your industry, network, or specific job pays a premium for being there. Jacksonville is cheaper than other Florida metros for a reason, including a less concentrated job market.
Who should pick Jacksonville?
Pick Jacksonville if you work remote, want to be in Florida, and care more about the financial gap than about being in Miami or Tampa. The savings versus the bigger Florida metros are real every month.
How we calculated this
Disposable income is gross salary minus federal income tax, state income tax, FICA, housing, everyday non-housing costs, and sales tax on discretionary spending. Federal tax uses 2026 effective rates after the standard deduction for a single filer. State income tax is a single-bracket approximation for mid-six-figure earners. Housing is the median 1-bedroom rent. Non-housing costs scale with the BEA cost-of-living index. Sales tax is applied to roughly 70 percent of discretionary spending, since groceries and many services are reduced-rate or exempt in most states.
The numbers on this page assume the same gross salary in both cities. That is the remote-work scenario, and it is the cleanest way to isolate the cost-of-living difference. If a new job would rebase your salary by city, plug both real offers into the tool below.
Run your own NYC vs Jacksonville numbers
The interactive Move-To-City tool lets you set different salaries for each city, enter your actual rent, switch filing status, and see the full FIRE-timeline impact of the move.
Open the Move-To-City tool →KEEP READING
Educational only, not financial advice. Cost-of-living estimates are modeled approximations from public data and will not match any individual budget exactly. Verify rent, tax, and salary figures for your own situation before making a move.