Jacksonville, NC vs Salisbury, NC

Jacksonville, NC and Salisbury, NC have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4% difference in their overall index. Jacksonville scores 86 while Salisbury scores 83 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Jacksonville is $1,268/month compared to $1,030/month in Salisbury — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Salisbury has cheaper rent, Jacksonville actually has lower median home values ($191,700 vs $215,200).

Median household income in Jacksonville is $54,069 compared to $51,058 in Salisbury (+5.9%). While Jacksonville 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 28.1% of their income on rent, more than the 24.2% in Salisbury.