City Comparison

Jacksonville vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Jacksonville

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

Springfield

Illinois
78
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

21.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 21.8%, with Springfield being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Jacksonville has equivalent purchasing power to $61,579 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
89
Jacksonville
52
Springfield
Groceries
101
Jacksonville
98
Springfield
Utilities
94
Jacksonville
98
Springfield
Transportation
103
Jacksonville
114
Springfield
Healthcare
95
Jacksonville
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Jacksonville has the same purchasing power as $61,579 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $91,346 in Jacksonville.

Living in Jacksonville vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Jacksonville's housing index of 89 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $280,000 vs $162,000. The $118,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,668 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Jacksonville compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 101 in Jacksonville and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Jacksonville vs $466/month in Springfield. 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 Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Jacksonville vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Jacksonville and 91 in Springfield. 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 $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,816 and $83,974 respectively. Springfield 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 $1,528/month in Springfield. In Jacksonville, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 37 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 21.8% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Jacksonville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $61,579 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Jacksonville's housing index is 89 with median homes at $280,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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