Jacksonville, FL vs Raleigh, NC

Jacksonville is moderately more affordable than Raleigh, with a 10.5% lower cost of living index. Jacksonville scores 98 compared to 110 for Raleigh, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Raleigh can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Jacksonville is $1,375/month compared to $1,468/month in Raleigh — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Jacksonville is more affordable at $266,100 median vs $377,800.

Median household income in Jacksonville is $66,981 compared to $82,424 in Raleigh (-18.7%). While Raleigh is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Jacksonville spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, more than the 21.4% in Raleigh.