Jacksonville vs Springfield
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Jacksonville
Springfield
The Verdict
Springfield is 13.1% less expensive than Jacksonville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Jacksonville would need approximately $66,316 in Springfield 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 $66,316 in Springfield.
Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $84,821 in Jacksonville.
Living in Jacksonville vs Springfield
Housing Costs
Jacksonville's housing index of 89 is higher Springfield's 67, translating to median home prices of $280,000 vs $225,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Jacksonville compared to $950/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Jacksonville and 94 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Jacksonville vs $447/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Jacksonville and 79 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Jacksonville vs $316 in Springfield. 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 116 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-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 $46,000 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,816 and $54,762 respectively. Jacksonville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,237/month to housing in Jacksonville vs $1,073/month in Springfield. In Jacksonville, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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