City Comparison

Duluth vs Jacksonville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Duluth

Minnesota
85
Very Affordable
$268,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$68,800
Median Income

Jacksonville

Florida
95
Below Average
$280,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$53,025
Median Income

The Verdict

10.5%

Living in Duluth costs 10.5% less than Jacksonville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Duluth, you would need $83,824 in Jacksonville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
88
Duluth
89
Jacksonville
Groceries
99
Duluth
101
Jacksonville
Utilities
94
Duluth
94
Jacksonville
Transportation
100
Duluth
103
Jacksonville
Healthcare
123
Duluth
95
Jacksonville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $83,824 in Jacksonville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Jacksonville equals $67,105 in Duluth.

Living in Duluth vs Jacksonville

Housing Costs

Duluth's housing index of 88 is lower Jacksonville's 89, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $280,000. The $12,000 difference in home prices means roughly $780 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,400/mo in Jacksonville, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 101 in Jacksonville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $480/month in Jacksonville. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Duluth and 94 in Jacksonville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $376 in Jacksonville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 95 in Jacksonville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 28-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $68,800 in Duluth and $53,025 in Jacksonville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $55,816 respectively. Duluth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $1,237/month in Jacksonville. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Jacksonville, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Duluth is 10.5% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,824 in Jacksonville, based on the cost of living difference.
Duluth's housing index is 88 with median homes at $268,000, while Jacksonville's is 89 with median homes at $280,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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