Jacksonville vs Tampa: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Jacksonville's homes carry a median value of $243,000, which is 27% lower than the $333,200 median value in Tampa.

Income differs between the two: $64,138 at the median in Jacksonville, $66,802 in Tampa.

Renters pay a median $1,281 in Jacksonville versus $1,422 in Tampa.

FEMA's National Risk Index puts both cities at "Relatively High" for overall natural-hazard risk.

Metric	Jacksonville, FL	Tampa, FL
Population	950,203	388,768
Median home value	$243,000	$333,200
Median household income	$64,138	$66,802
Median gross rent	$1,281	$1,422
Climate risk (FEMA)	Relatively High	Relatively High

Housing is cheaper across the board in Jacksonville, FL compared with Tampa, FL: lower home values, lower rent. Other cost-of-living factors aren't reflected here.

Moving between Jacksonville and Tampa

Jacksonville and Tampa are 171 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Jacksonville → Tampa	Tampa → Jacksonville
Median rent	+$141/mo (+11%)	−$141/mo (−10%)
Median home value	+$90,200 (+37%)	−$90,200 (−27%)
Median household income	+$2,664 (+4%)	−$2,664 (−4%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$607 – $931
2-3 bedroom	$1,800 – $2,739
4+ bedroom house	$3,302 – $5,013

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Jacksonville, FL Tampa, FL

196 miles estimated driving distance · 3.3 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$324 – $414

Includes an estimated $69 in fuel (20 gal at ~10 mpg) over 1 driving day.

Professional Movers

$1,696 – $2,791

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.