Cost of Living: Jacksonville, FL vs Philadelphia, PA
Jacksonville is about 3% cheaper than Philadelphia overall.
Comparing Jacksonville, FL and Philadelphia, PA across cost of living, rent, income, and the salary needed to live comfortably. Jacksonville has a lower overall price level, driven mainly by housing.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 99.5 | 102.6 |
| Median rent | $1,375 | $1,323 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom (FMR) | $922 | $1,520 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom (FMR) | $1,103 | $1,810 |
| Median home value | $266,100 | $232,400 |
| Median household income | $66,981 | $60,698 |
| Salary needed (single) | $36,900 | $60,800 |
| Salary needed (family) | $60,500 | $86,800 |
Green highlights the more favorable value for each metric. Lower is better for costs; higher is better for income. Figures are estimates from public data (BEA, Census, HUD).
Which City Is More Affordable?
Overall, Jacksonville is the more affordable of the two, with a cost-of-living index of 99.5 versus 102.6 for Philadelphia. The biggest difference is usually housing, where rents in Philadelphia run noticeably higher.
You can read the full breakdown for each city on its own page: cost of living in Jacksonville and cost of living in Philadelphia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Philadelphia?
Jacksonville is about 3% cheaper than Philadelphia overall, based on the BEA cost-of-living index (Jacksonville: 99.5 vs Philadelphia: 102.6).
What is the rent difference between Jacksonville and Philadelphia?
The median rent is $1,375 in Jacksonville and $1,323 in Philadelphia.
How much salary do you need in Jacksonville vs Philadelphia?
A single person needs about $36,900 in Jacksonville and $60,800 in Philadelphia to live comfortably.
Data Sources
Cost-of-living index from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities). Income, rent, and home value from the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-Year). Fair Market Rents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.