Jacksonville vs Indianapolis city (balance): Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Jacksonville, FL and Indianapolis city (balance), IN, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricJacksonville, FLIndianapolis city (balance), IN
Population950,203882,006
Median household income$64,138$59,110
Median home value$243,000$184,600
Median rent (/mo)$1,281$1,046

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Jacksonville, FL and Indianapolis city (balance), IN comes down to what you value most. Indianapolis city (balance) has the lower median home value, and Indianapolis city (balance) has the lower median rent.

Jacksonville has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Indianapolis city (balance)?
By median home value, Indianapolis city (balance) is the cheaper of the two ($184,600 vs $243,000). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Jacksonville or Indianapolis city (balance)?
Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville versus $59,110 in Indianapolis city (balance), per the US Census Bureau.

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