Jacksonville vs Austin: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Jacksonville, FL and Austin, TX, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricJacksonville, FLAustin, TX
Population950,203958,202
Median household income$64,138$86,556
Median home value$243,000$461,500
Median rent (/mo)$1,281$1,549

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

Comparing Jacksonville, FL and Austin, TX comes down to what you value most. Jacksonville has the lower median home value, and Jacksonville has the lower median rent.

Austin 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 Austin?
By median home value, Jacksonville is the cheaper of the two ($243,000 vs $461,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Jacksonville or Austin?
Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville versus $86,556 in Austin, per the US Census Bureau.

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