City Comparison

Jacksonville vs Roswell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Jacksonville

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

Roswell

Georgia
113
Above Average
$647,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$108,800
Median Income

The Verdict

15.9%

Living in Jacksonville costs 15.9% less than Roswell. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Jacksonville, you would need $89,211 in Roswell.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
89
Jacksonville
187
Roswell
Groceries
101
Jacksonville
101
Roswell
Utilities
94
Jacksonville
98
Roswell
Transportation
103
Jacksonville
110
Roswell
Healthcare
95
Jacksonville
103
Roswell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Jacksonville has the same purchasing power as $89,211 in Roswell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $63,053 in Jacksonville.

Living in Jacksonville vs Roswell

Housing Costs

Jacksonville's housing index of 89 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $280,000 vs $647,000. The $367,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Jacksonville compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Jacksonville and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Jacksonville vs $480/month in Roswell. 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 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Jacksonville vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Jacksonville and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $53,025 in Jacksonville and $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,816 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,237/month to housing in Jacksonville vs $2,539/month in Roswell. In Jacksonville, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 98 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jacksonville is 15.9% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Jacksonville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $89,211 in Roswell, based on the cost of living difference.
Jacksonville's housing index is 89 with median homes at $280,000, while Roswell's is 187 with median homes at $647,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases