Cost of Living: Jacksonville vs Denver (2026)

Why Jacksonville ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. And with some exceptions, at 98 on the cost index, residents save roughly 14% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,576/month while the median household pulls in $66,981/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 90, though Healthcare (101) lags behind. Home prices average $282,367 — $185,003 below the national median.

Now, the part that complicates the narrative: Nationally, the 288 cities in our database average a cost index of 112 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — , rent of $1,895/month, and household income of $80,367. The cities in this ranking significantly outperform those benchmarks. Over thirty years of homeownership, the property tax savings alone are staggering.

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. Can we talk about how broken the conversation around affordability is? A city gets labeled 'cheap' and suddenly everyone assumes there's a catch — bad schools, no jobs, nothing to do. But look at the income numbers here. Look at the cost categories. This isn't a budget consolation prize. It's a genuine alternative to the coastal rat race, and the data makes that case more convincingly than any think piece.