Compare / Jacksonville to Lakeland
Jacksonville, FL vs Lakeland, FL
Simple answer
You'd likely save $86 a month in Lakeland.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is housing prices. The BEA housing price parity differs by 13.8 points (Jacksonville 109.8, Lakeland 95.9).
Florida has no tax on wages. Florida has no tax on wages. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in Florida. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in Florida.
Both metros are in Florida, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.
A $75,000 salary in Jacksonville lines up with about $73,234 in Lakeland on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,694
- HUD area
- Jacksonville, FL HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,625
- All-items price parity
- 99.5
- Goods price parity
- 96.2
- Utilities price parity
- 87.5
- Mean commute
- 27.4 min
- Median household income
- $82,053
Lakeland
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,608
- HUD area
- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA
- Census median gross rent
- $1,484
- All-items price parity
- 97.1
- Goods price parity
- 96.2
- Utilities price parity
- 86.9
- Mean commute
- 31.4 min
- Median household income
- $66,779
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$73,234
Salary in Lakeland that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$72,938
Gross salary in Lakeland whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$71,192
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | Florida | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | No wage tax | No wage tax |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 7.0% | 7.0% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 0.75% | 0.75% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $3,016 a year in Florida and $3,016 in Florida. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in Florida
Jacksonville and Lakeland are in Florida. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
JacksonvilleLikely eligible
LakelandLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
JacksonvilleLikely eligible
LakelandLikely eligible
WIC
JacksonvilleLikely eligible
LakelandLikely eligible
School meals
JacksonvilleLikely eligible
LakelandLikely eligible
LIHEAP
JacksonvilleMaybe
LakelandMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
JacksonvilleLikely eligible
LakelandLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
JacksonvilleLikely eligible
LakelandLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
JacksonvilleLikely eligible
LakelandLikely eligible
Lifeline phone and internet
JacksonvilleLikely eligible
LakelandLikely eligible
SSI
JacksonvilleUnlikely
LakelandUnlikely
| Program | Jacksonville | Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Related comparisons
From Jacksonville
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Jacksonville.
- Jacksonville and San Francisco · rent gap $2,003
- Jacksonville and San Jose · rent gap $1,578
- Jacksonville and Boston · rent gap $1,314
- Jacksonville and New York · rent gap $1,277
- Jacksonville and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,270
- Jacksonville and San Diego · rent gap $1,129
- Jacksonville and Miami · rent gap $870
- Jacksonville and Seattle · rent gap $855
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.