Fort Payne, AL vs Jacksonville, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Jacksonville, AL has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% lower than Fort Payne, AL.

Fort Payne, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$800 / month
Jacksonville, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$920 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Fort Payne, AL and Jacksonville, AL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $168/month in Jacksonville, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,984 in Jacksonville, AL

Regional cost estimates: Fort Payne, AL uses Atlanta, GA. Jacksonville, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 0.6%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$168
Savings
Annual Impact
$2.0K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Fort Payne, AL

Population:15K
Cost Index:
85.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$186K

Jacksonville, AL

Population:15K
Cost Index:
84.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$202K

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Fort Payne, AL

The Heart of Dixie

15K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Jacksonville, AL

The Heart of Dixie

15K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fort Payne, AL vs Jacksonville, AL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 11.2%
Fort Payne, AL
$2,183
Jacksonville, AL
$1,938
Difference
$245
less
Groceries
↑ 10.1%
Fort Payne, AL
$989
Jacksonville, AL
$1,089
Difference
$99.56
more
Healthcare
↓ 3.8%
Fort Payne, AL
$607
Jacksonville, AL
$584
Difference
$23.30
less
Other
↓ 1.0%
Fort Payne, AL
$1,779
Jacksonville, AL
$1,762
Difference
$17.45
less
All Utilities
↑ 1.8%
Fort Payne, AL
$603
Jacksonville, AL
$614
Difference
$11.06
more
Transportation
↑ 0.6%
Fort Payne, AL
$1,338
Jacksonville, AL
$1,346
Difference
$7.62
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$590
To$720
↑ $130
1 Bed
From$610
To$720
↑ $110
2 Bed
From$800
To$920
↑ $120
3 Bed
From$1,020
To$1,240
↑ $220
Fort Payne, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $610–$610/mo

Jacksonville, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Fort Payne, AL
$7,332
Monthly in Jacksonville, AL
$168
Difference

Home Values

Fort Payne
Jacksonville
$186K
Median Value
$202K
↓ -0.6%
YoY Change
↑ +5.2%
↑ +35.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +28.3%

Homes in Jacksonville are 9% more expensive than Fort Payne

Calculate payment - Fort PayneCalculate payment - Jacksonville

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Fort Payne, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

Jacksonville, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Fort Payne, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

Jacksonville, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Fort Payne
Jacksonville
50 Good
Air Quality
57 Moderate
50.8%
Good Air Days
26%
96 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days

Before moving from Fort Payne, AL to Jacksonville, AL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Jacksonville, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fort Payne, AL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Fort Payne to Jacksonville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Jacksonville, AL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Fort Payne, AL vs Jacksonville, AL

How do the cost estimates for Fort Payne, AL and Jacksonville, AL compare?

Jacksonville, AL has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% lower than Fort Payne, AL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Fort Payne, AL, the model estimates $147,984 in Jacksonville, AL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Fort Payne, AL and Jacksonville, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $800/month in Fort Payne, AL and $920/month in Jacksonville, AL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

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