A+
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
12%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Jacksonville Illinois National
Cost of living8496100
Goods & Services8897100
Groceries9798100
Health care9395100
Housing6195100
Transportation109103100
Utilities9789100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Jacksonville, IL

Knowing the cost of living in Jacksonville allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Jacksonville stands at 84, marking it 16% lower than the national average.

Everyday items like clothes, personal care products and fun activities all add up to what it costs to live. The thing is, in Jacksonville, these goods and services are 12.4% cheaper than what people pay on average across the country. That means you can enjoy what you need and like without going broke. With these savings, you can stash more cash in your savings or use it for other money goals, which can really boost your financial health.

Is Jacksonville Affordable?

Is Jacksonville an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Jacksonville is 42.4% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 30.6% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Jacksonville has a median household income of $46,500, which is 15.9% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Jacksonville?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Jacksonville comes in at 3.4% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Jacksonville, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.25%, and income tax rates begin at 4.95%.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Jacksonville, healthcare costs are 7.2% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Jacksonville cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Jacksonville is 13% lower than the Illinois average
  • The cost of living in Jacksonville is 16% lower than the national average
  • Jacksonville housing is 39% lower than the national average
  • Illinois general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Illinois state income tax is 91% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Jacksonville

See all the best places to live around Jacksonville

Compare Jacksonville, IL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$65,163$5,430$1,520$1,955
      Renters$27,621$2,302$644$829
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Jacksonville, IL, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Jacksonville, homeowners have a median income of $65,163. Using that number, a maximum of $1,520 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $27,621, which means there is a maximum of $644 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Illinois Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Illinois 6.25% 10.25%

      Illinois Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Illinois 4.95% 4.95%

      Goods & Services

      Item Jacksonville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $15.00$24.2638.2%
      Beauty Salon $30.00$45.5634.2%
      Toothpaste $3.76$3.701.5%
      Shampoo $1.20$1.286.6%
      Movie $10.96$12.139.7%
      Bowling $20.00$18.0011.1%

      Groceries

      Item Jacksonville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.77$5.841.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.35$1.5714.4%
      Milk $4.63$4.670.8%
      Potatoes $5.10$4.933.4%
      Pizza $14.32$12.0918.5%
      Beer $9.43$10.419.5%

      Health Care

      Item Jacksonville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $120.83$125.683.9%
      Doctor $121.67$135.7810.4%
      Dentist $100.00$113.2911.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.26$10.653.7%
      Lipitor $493.33$468.605.3%

      Housing

      Item Jacksonville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $106,400.00$184,700.0042.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,978.34$2,346.6915.7%
      Apartment Rent $659.00$949.0030.6%

      Transportation

      Item Jacksonville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.60$3.464.1%
      Tire Balancing $72.50$59.9221.0%

      Utilities

      Item Jacksonville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $181.08$193.996.7%
      Phone $195.03$192.251.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Glasgow, IL937426.0%
      Lynnville, IL1277624.0%
      Alsey, IL1757822.3%
      Exeter, IL727821.8%
      Chapin, IL5368019.8%
      Jacksonville, IL18,7848415.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Farmington, MO18,7928812.2%
      Seminole, FL18,7721033.0%
      Midland, ON18,769n/a 
      Bellwood, IL18,7991011.0%
      Madisonville, KY18,801918.6%
      Jacksonville, IL18,7848415.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.