Medford vs Pensacola
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Medford
Pensacola
The Verdict
Pensacola is 19.1% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Medford would need approximately $62,972 in Pensacola 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 Medford has the same purchasing power as $62,972 in Pensacola.
Conversely, $75,000 in Pensacola equals $89,326 in Medford.
Living in Medford vs Pensacola
Housing Costs
Medford's housing index of 139 is higher Pensacola's 80, translating to median home prices of $406,000 vs $314,000. The $92,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,976 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Medford compared to $1,350/mo in Pensacola, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Medford and 101 in Pensacola. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Medford vs $480/month in Pensacola. Pensacola offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Medford and 94 in Pensacola. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Medford vs $376 in Pensacola. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Medford and 100 in Pensacola. 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 $73,200 in Medford and $63,200 in Pensacola. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,057 and $71,011 respectively. Pensacola residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,708/month to housing in Medford vs $1,475/month in Pensacola. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Pensacola, median rent of $1,350/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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