Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jacksonville, FL and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Jacksonville, FL: $2,487 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $15,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jacksonville, FL, United States
Seattle, WA, United States
Jacksonville, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,487
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,785
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jacksonville, FL and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jacksonville, FL and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,487 per month in Jacksonville, FL vs $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Jacksonville, FL $2,487
  • Seattle, WA $3,785

A couple spends around $3,787 per month in Jacksonville, FL vs $5,688 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Jacksonville, FL $3,787
  • Seattle, WA $5,688

A family of three spends $5,087 per month in Jacksonville, FL vs $7,592 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

  • Jacksonville, FL $5,087
  • Seattle, WA $7,592

Jacksonville, FL is about 34% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Jacksonville, FL and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Jacksonville, FL by 83%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.69 $19.69
$25.30 $25.30
-22.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$101 $101
0.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.37 $11.37
$14.76 $14.76
-22.97%
Cappuccino
$5.58 $5.58
$6.50 $6.50
-14.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$3.21 $3.21
-3.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$3.14 $3.14
-30.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.98 $4.98
$7.97 $7.97
-37.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19 $7.19
$8.13 $8.13
-11.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.17 $1.17
-14.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.35 $3.35
$5.30 $5.30
-36.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 $3.73
$6.40 $6.40
-41.72%
Eggs
$4.40 $4.40
$5.06 $5.06
-13.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.72 $13.72
$18.71 $18.71
-26.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.57 $9.57
$18.72 $18.72
-48.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$22.88 $22.88
-29.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.82 $4.82
$6.06 $6.06
-20.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.95 $1.95
-27.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$5.51 $5.51
-27.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$6.52 $6.52
-30.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.49 $3.49
-16.05%
Onion (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$3.29 $3.29
-6.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.80 $2.80
-4.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.58 $2.58
-3.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.34 $9.34
$12.49 $12.49
-25.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.63 $14.63
$14.87 $14.87
-1.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$4.19 $4.19
-51.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$5.80 $5.80
-44.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.77 $1.77
$3.05 $3.05
-41.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.5 $64.5
$106 $106
-39.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.58 $2.58
-41.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.64 $1.64
-28.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.75 $13.75
$30.12 $30.12
-54.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.41 $1.41
-26.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$36.8K $36.8K
-14.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$26.6K $26.6K
-1.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$308 $308
-29.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.4 $64.4
$69.2 $69.2
-6.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.2 $68.2
$86.1 $86.1
-20.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.02 $35.02
$76.5 $76.5
-54.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.49 $6.49
$35.50 $35.50
-81.72%
Cinema Ticket
$14.76 $14.76
$18.02 $18.02
-18.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,318 $1,318
$2,746 $2,746
-52.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.0K $12.0K
$30.6K $30.6K
-60.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 $64.1
$79.2 $79.2
-19.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.85 $47.85
$54.3 $54.3
-11.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$127 $127
-11.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 $151
$159 $159
-4.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 $1,651
$2,508 $2,508
-34.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,118 $1,118
$1,938 $1,938
-42.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,590 $2,590
$5,117 $5,117
-49.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$3,542 $3,542
-44.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,356 $2,356
$7,374 $7,374
-68.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,066 $2,066
$5,002 $5,002
-58.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jacksonville, FL
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,010 $4,010
$6,470 $6,470
-38.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
6.89
-2.90%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jacksonville, FL: October 26, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Jacksonville, FL
$1.1K
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 73.3% $820
Groceries & Markets
Jacksonville, FL
$386
Seattle, WA
$547 41.5% $161
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jacksonville, FL
$350
Seattle, WA
$463 32.1% $112
Eating Out
Jacksonville, FL
$319
Seattle, WA
$406 27.3% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Jacksonville, FL
$169
Seattle, WA
$189 11.7% $20
Getting Around
Jacksonville, FL
$79
Seattle, WA
$129 63.3% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Jacksonville, FL
$65
Seattle, WA
$112 74.3% $48

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,651 in Jacksonville, FL versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 61% higher in Seattle, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Jacksonville, FL versus $101 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $386 in Jacksonville, FL vs $547 in Seattle, WA – so Jacksonville, FL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Jacksonville, FL
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
10:12 10:12 AM
07:12 7:12 AM
3 h behind Jacksonville, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
949,611
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jacksonville, FL Seattle, WA 3,950 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Jacksonville, FL vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jacksonville, FL or Seattle, WA?
Seattle, WA costs about 52% more than Jacksonville, FL, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jacksonville, FL and in Seattle, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,730 per month in Jacksonville, FL and $5,677 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jacksonville, FL or Seattle, WA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jacksonville, FL, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,651 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.
How much does it cost to live in Jacksonville, FL compared to Seattle, WA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,487 in Jacksonville, FL and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. That makes Jacksonville, FL about 34% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Jacksonville, FL and in Seattle, WA?
Kindergarten costs $1,318 per month in Jacksonville, FL and $2,746 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Jacksonville, FL or in Seattle, WA?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,487 in Jacksonville, FL and $3,785 in Seattle, WA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Jacksonville, FL – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Jacksonville, FL or to Seattle, WA?
If budget matters most, go with Jacksonville, FL. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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