🇺🇸 North America

FIRE Number for Jacksonville, United States

Name: Jacksonville, United States
Address: Jacksonville, United States

United States

Beach Living, No State Income Tax, and Florida's Most Affordable Major City

FIRE Score Based on safety, healthcare, infrastructure & expat friendliness

Jacksonville is Florida's largest city by area, offering miles of Atlantic beaches, a revitalizing downtown, and some of the most affordable housing in the Sunshine State. With no state income tax, a growing food scene in the Five Points and Riverside neighborhoods, and easy access to both St. Augustine and Amelia Island, Jacksonville is an underrated FIRE destination that combines beach-town living with big-city infrastructure.

Lean FIRE, FIRE, and Fat FIRE for Jacksonville

Needed to retire here is the portfolio that, in a historical backtest, would have lasted your retirement at your chosen confidence and length. Status is the verdict for your portfolio. The 4% rule benchmark is shown underneath each figure for reference only. Cost estimates are for a one-person household — adjust household size below.

Household size

Costs scale by category, not a flat multiple — housing is largely shared; food and healthcare scale per person.

Use my own healthcare cost

Lifestyle	Needed to retire here	Monthly Cost
Lean FIRE	$840K	$2,800/mo
FIRE	$1.47M	$4,910/mo
Fat FIRE	$5.45M	$18,150/mo

Cost data: Q3 2026 · Medium confidence

Cost of Living Breakdown for Jacksonville

Cost and FIRE figures are for a one-person household — adjust household size in the controls above.Showing costs for 2 adults.

Lean FIRE Lifestyle

$840K

A cheapest-acceptable one-bedroom in Arlington or Murray Hill, cooking most meals at home with casual seafood shacks and taco spots a few times a week. A car is essential across Jacksonville's sprawl, and Florida's high auto premiums plus summer A/C bills form a real cost floor alongside the ACA Silver premium — which stays affordable only if annual income is managed under the 2026 ~$62,600 subsidy cutoff. Florida's zero income tax helps, and the Atlantic beaches, Riverwalk, and pier fishing are free and close.

FIRE Lifestyle

$1.47M

A high-quality place near the beaches or a waterfront one-bedroom in San Marco or Ortega, with regular dinners at Restaurant Orsay, Town Hall, and Cowford Chophouse. A late-model SUV, premium care through Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, and golf access near TPC Sawgrass all fit, with healthcare a Gold plan padded near the ~$62,600 ACA subsidy cutoff. Jacksonville's affordability means this budget covers more ground than the same money in South Florida.

Fat FIRE Lifestyle

$5.45M

A historic riverfront mansion in Ortega, housekeeping several days a week with grounds and pool service, and a private chef several days a week. First-class travel, top-tier Mayo Clinic concierge care, chartered boat days on the water, and club-level Jaguars season tickets at EverBank Stadium all fit comfortably. Florida's zero income tax on roughly $218k a year of spending represents significant annual savings, funding an uncapped coastal life with deep-sea fishing and international travel.

Retirement Confidence

The 4% rule is a great starting point. Here we go a step further and test your plan against real market history.

Enter your portfolio on the homepage to backtest a retirement in Jacksonville against market history.

How this is calculated

This is a real historical backtest. We run your plan through every retirement-length window in US market history (1871–2022): a 75% stock / 25% bond portfolio, rebalanced annually, with withdrawals raised each year for that period's actual inflation. The success rate is the share of those historical start years in which the money lasted the full length without running out.

Your confidence level sets the bar: at Balanced (90%), a survival rate of 90% or more reads "You can retire here", within 10 points below is "Close - worth a closer look", and lower is "Not quite yet". The same level sizes the "Needed to retire here" target. Retirement length also drives it - early retirees planning 40–50+ years see lower survival than the 30-year baseline.

Healthcare, Visa & City Overview

climate Warm

healthcare Good

english Widely spoken

safety Exercise caution

visa Easy

Timezone

EST (UTC-5)

Currency

USD

Language

English

Avg. Temperature

68°F / 20°C

Internet

150+ Mbps average

Airport

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)

Frequently Asked Questions About Retiring in Jacksonville

What is the FIRE Number for Jacksonville, United States?

The FIRE Number for Jacksonville ranges from $840K (Lean FIRE lifestyle) to $5.45M (Fat FIRE lifestyle). A FIRE retirement requires a portfolio of approximately $1.47M, based on estimated monthly costs of $4,910 and a 4% safe withdrawal rate.

How much does it cost to retire in Jacksonville?

Monthly living costs in Jacksonville range from $2,800 (Lean FIRE) to $4,910 (FIRE), covering housing (market rent), dining, groceries, healthcare, transportation, entertainment, and utilities.

What is healthcare like in Jacksonville for retirees?

Healthcare in Jacksonville costs approximately $450 to $600/month depending on coverage level. Typical coverage at the Lean FIRE budget: A subsidized Silver plan on Florida's ACA marketplace, assuming annual income stays under the 2026 subsidy cutoff of about $62,600 for a single person; above that, the full price climbs toward $1,000 a month. Priced for an early retiree aged 45-55; older retirees should budget more.

What is the weather like in Jacksonville?

Subtropical with hot humid summers and mild winters. The average temperature is 68°F / 20°C.

How safe is Jacksonville for retirees?

Retirees should exercise normal caution in Jacksonville, scoring 5 out of 10 in our safety ratings.