Jacksonville vs New Bedford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Jacksonville
New Bedford
The Verdict
Jacksonville is 15.2% less expensive than New Bedford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Jacksonville would need approximately $88,421 in New Bedford to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Jacksonville has the same purchasing power as $88,421 in New Bedford.
Conversely, $75,000 in New Bedford equals $63,616 in Jacksonville.
Living in Jacksonville vs New Bedford
Housing Costs
Jacksonville's housing index of 89 is lower New Bedford's 116, translating to median home prices of $280,000 vs $371,000. The $91,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,916 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Jacksonville compared to $1,225/mo in New Bedford, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Jacksonville and 104 in New Bedford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Jacksonville vs $494/month in New Bedford. 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 Jacksonville and 145 in New Bedford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Jacksonville vs $580 in New Bedford. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 95 in Jacksonville and 118 in New Bedford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $53,025 in Jacksonville and $57,000 in New Bedford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,816 and $50,893 respectively. Jacksonville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,237/month to housing in Jacksonville vs $1,330/month in New Bedford. In Jacksonville, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In New Bedford, median rent of $1,225/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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