same $100k income, fresh start from Washington
changea dispatch from
jacksonville
FL
30.33°N
81.66°W
Jacksonville is the largest city in the continental U.S. by land area, which means everything is 20 minutes from everything else and most of those 20 minutes involve a bridge. The St. Johns River cuts the city in half, the beaches are a quick drive east, and the food scene leans seafood and surprisingly excellent BBQ. It's a Florida city without the theme-park vibe.
in our guides
the verdict
lighter monthly cost than Washington
Jacksonville is the kind of cheap that changes the math. Same salary, a different life on the other side.
a quick ledger.
$1,679/mo
29% cheaper than Washington(vs $2,352/mo)
0%
$708/mo less in state tax than Washington
vs 8.5% in Washington
$6,654/mo
$1,381 more than Washington
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$358k
43% cheaper than Washington
vs $626k in Washington
1.7M
vs 6.3M in Washington
field notes, weather & such.
198
pleasant days a year, in jacksonville.
Washington only manages 177 of those. Summer is real but not punishing: 27 days top 95° vs Washington's 4.
Washington hosts 3.1× more events.
64/100
26% lower than Washington
vs 87/100 in Washington
Closest outdoor draw: Little Talbot Island State Park, 16.5 mi.
93/100
5% lower than Washington
vs 98/100 in Washington
26
84% fewer than Washington
vs 160 nonstops in Washington
in the same ballpark as jacksonville:
compare jacksonville with:
