City comparison
Jacksonville, FL vs Ocala, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Jacksonville, FL are 4.5% higher than in Ocala, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Ocala, FL would need about $104,500 in Jacksonville, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Jacksonville, FL versus $1,172 in Ocala, FL. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Jacksonville, FL and 18% in Ocala, FL.
- Both are in FL, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Jacksonville, FL to Ocala, FL changes real buying power by +4.5%, purely from prices.
- Jacksonville, FL: price level 99.5 (about average)
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Jacksonville, FL | Ocala, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.5 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,728 in Ocala | $104,463 in Jacksonville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $1,172/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,830 | $43,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Jacksonville, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Ocala, FL MSA. Metro areas: Jacksonville, FL and Ocala, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Jacksonville | Ocala |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.8 | 86.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 87.5 | 87.1 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 99.5 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Jacksonville, FL → Ocala, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
83 Strong offer
Ocala, FL → Jacksonville, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Jacksonville, FL to Ocala, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Jacksonville, FL | Ocala, FL | Real change, Jacksonville → Ocala |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Jacksonville, FL | Ocala, FL | Ocala pay in Jacksonville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,080 | $57,540 | $60,108 (−1.6%) |
| Software Developers | $130,330 | $112,780 | $117,813 (−9.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,960 | $74,370 | $77,689 (−2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,520 | $79,230 | $82,766 (−0.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.