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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Jacksonville stands out at 98 on the index, with rent of $1,576/month — for better or worse — and household income of $66,981. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
The numbers are clear: 2 of 2 cities beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Jacksonville stands out at 98 on the index, with rent of $1,576/month — for better or worse — and household income of $66,981. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
Here's Jacksonville by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 98. Rent: $1,576/month — not a number you see very often, by the way — . Income: $66,981/year. Home price: $282,367. Population: 985,843. The strongest category is Utilities at 90; the most expensive is Healthcare at 101. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,828 per year vs. the national median. On a teacher's salary, this difference is the line between paycheck-to-paycheck and comfortable.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Jacksonville (index 98 — we had to double-check this one — , rent $1,576); Columbus (index 94, rent $1,415). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
No sugarcoating: Factor in the cost side, though, and the picture shifts. Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112, rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. If you plug these numbers into any cost calculator, they hold up.
No sugarcoating: Bottom line: Jacksonville, FL leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Jacksonville, FL — cost index 98, rent $1,576/mo, income $66,981
2 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JacksonvilleFL | 98 | $1,576 | Details |
| 2 | ColumbusOH | 94 | $1,415 | Details |
985,843 residents · Florida
Here's Jacksonville by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 98. Rent: $1,576/month — we had to double-check this one — . Income: $66,981/year. Home price: $282,367. Population: 985,843. The strongest category is Utilities at 90; the most expensive is Healthcare at 101. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,828 per year vs. the national median. For anyone running the numbers, this is where it clicks (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
913,175 residents · Ohio
Here's Columbus by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 94. Rent: $1,415/month. Income: $65,327/year. Home price: $243,005. Population: 913,175. The strongest category is Housing at 84; the most expensive is Healthcare at 96. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $5,760 per year vs. the national median. At this level, the city practically pays for your move (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Jacksonville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,576/mo, while Columbus (ranked #2) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,415/mo — a 4-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Jacksonville is $1,576/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $319 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Jacksonville is $282,367, which is 4.2× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.