CostIndexUSA

Jacksonville, FL vs Lakeland, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Jacksonville
99.5
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Lakeland
97.1
overall index
$1,825/mo rent

Lakeland is slightly cheaper than Jacksonville — 2.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Jacksonville, you would need $78,100 in Lakeland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing12.7%
Jacksonville
109.8
Lakeland
95.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Jacksonville
96.2
Lakeland
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Jacksonville
103.8
Lakeland
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Jacksonville
93.9
Lakeland
93.9
Utilities0.7%
Jacksonville
87.5
Lakeland
86.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Jacksonville to see what you'd need to earn in Lakeland to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lakeland, FL
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Lakeland

Formula: salary × (97.1 ÷ 99.5) = salary × 0.9759. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Jacksonville, FL

Median Home Price
$344,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
109.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Lakeland, FL

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,825
Housing Index
95.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.5×

Jacksonville has 12.7% lower housing costs compared to Lakeland.

Income & Job Market

Jacksonville, FL

Median Household Income
$77,000
Per Capita Income
$43,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
949,611
Top Industries
MilitaryLogisticsHealthcareFinanceManufacturing

Lakeland, FL

Median Household Income
$66,900
Per Capita Income
$38,100
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
119,428
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Jacksonville, FL
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Lakeland, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.