Cost of Living in Jacksonville (2026) — Monthly Budget

Wondering how far your salary goes in Jacksonville? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.

What things cost

One-bed apartment, Riverside / San Marco / DowntownUSD 1,250–1,700 / month

One-bed apartment, Southside, Arlington or WestsideUSD 1,000–1,350 / month

JTA 31-day passUSD 50 / month; the downtown Skyway is free

Groceries, one personUSD 350–470 / month

Car insurance, one driverUSD 150–300 / month — Florida is consistently among the most expensive states in the country for auto cover

Good to know

Population

≈1,018,000 in the consolidated city; ≈1.75 million across the metro

Languages

English; Spanish and Tagalog are the largest other languages spoken at home

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Time zone

EST (GMT-5); EDT (GMT-4) from mid-March to early November

Power plug

Types A and B, 120 V / 60 Hz

Climate

Humid subtropical — long hot muggy summers with near-daily afternoon thunderstorms, mild dry winters, hurricane season 1 June to 30 November

Driving side

Right

Land area

≈875 sq miles including water — a consolidated city-county, and one of the largest municipal footprints in the country

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

A note on budgeting

Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Jacksonville checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.