Question 1

Is Arlington or Jacksonville cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $65/month less than in Arlington, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,658/mo in Jacksonville.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Jacksonville?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $75,500/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $74,000/year in Jacksonville, FL — a difference of about $1,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Jacksonville cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Jacksonville, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,055/month in Arlington and $9,565/month in Jacksonville, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Jacksonville?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Jacksonville costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington71	Jacksonville66
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,277	$4,212
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,055	$9,565
Salary for comfort	$75,500/yr	$74,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,658
Median home value	$276,400	$266,100
Median household income	$73,519	$66,981
Unemployment	4.7%	5.0%
Housing score	57	52
Jobs score	51	39
Safety score	65	65
Climate score	94	100
Amenities score	73	41
Population	394.8K	961.7K
Summer high / winter low	95° / 36°	91° / 45°

Arlington, TX vs Jacksonville, FL