Jacksonville, FL vs Tampa, FL

Jacksonville is moderately more affordable than Tampa, with a 13.8% lower cost of living index. Jacksonville scores 98 compared to 114 for Tampa, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Tampa 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 $1,567/month in Tampa — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Jacksonville is more affordable at $266,100 median vs $375,300.

Median household income in Jacksonville is $66,981 compared to $71,302 in Tampa (-6.1%). Tampa does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Jacksonville spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, less than the 26.4% in Tampa.

Climate-wise, Tampa is notably warmer with an average of 74.5°F compared to 71.4°F in Jacksonville. Tampa receives more rainfall at 49.5" per year compared to 47.6" in Jacksonville.