Cost of living in Florida

Everyday prices in Florida run 3.4% above the US average, the 41st lowest of 51 states and DC.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

3% pricierEveryday prices¹41st lowest of 51
$409,950Typical home^2,3$2,253/mo mortgage
$1,873/mo2-bed rent⁴Utilities included
$137,808$150K in New York¹Buys the same life in Florida

Florida cities we cover

Cheapest first. Tap one for monthly costs, weather and flights.^1,2,4

Lakeland3% cheaper than average
Home
$329,000
Mortgage
$1,808/mo
2-bed rent
$1,437
See Lakeland
MelbourneAbout the US average
Home
$369,775
Mortgage
$2,032/mo
2-bed rent
$1,755
See Melbourne
Daytona Beach1% cheaper than average
Home
$374,950
Mortgage
$2,061/mo
2-bed rent
$1,638
See Daytona Beach
Jacksonville1% cheaper than average
Home
$379,000
Mortgage
$2,083/mo
2-bed rent
$1,642
See Jacksonville
Fort Myers2% pricier than average
Home
$379,900
Mortgage
$2,088/mo
2-bed rent
$1,849
See Fort Myers
Tampa1% pricier than average
Home
$385,398
Mortgage
$2,118/mo
2-bed rent
$1,861
See Tampa
Orlando1% pricier than average
Home
$410,000
Mortgage
$2,253/mo
2-bed rent
$1,855
See Orlando
Sarasota2% pricier than average
Home
$457,450
Mortgage
$2,514/mo
2-bed rent
$1,975
See Sarasota

Florida next to New York and the US

Longer bar = costs more.^1,4,2,3

FloridaUnited StatesNew York metro

Everyday prices
3% pricier than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
Housing, rent included
22% pricier than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
2-bedroom rent$1,873/mo
20% more than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
Typical home for sale$409,950
2% less than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $2,253/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.

How affordable is Florida?

Rent and home prices next to what households earn.⁶

$77,920

Typical household incomeA year · 40th highest of 51

29%

Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($1,873/mo) against median income ($77,920). 51st lowest of 51.

5.3

Years of income to buy a home$409,950 median listing against $77,920 income. 32nd lowest of 50.

Are people moving to Florida?

22,517 more people moved to Florida from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

YearLeftArrivedNet moves
2019-20+174,645
2020-21+253,220
2021-22+310,892
2022-23+183,646
2023-24+58,411
2024-25+22,517

Where Americans are moving⁵

Metro areas in Florida

Cheapest first. Tap one for its full cost of living.^1,4,2

Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier

Show 5 more

Florida next to its neighbors

The states that border Florida, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.^1,4,2

7Alabama11% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,103
Typical home
$325,000
Net moves
+23,358
25Georgia4% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,524
Typical home
$389,750
Net moves
+27,333
41FloridaThis state3% pricier than average
2-bed rent
$1,873
Typical home
$409,950
Net moves
+22,517

Florida by the numbers

Every figure on this page, as tables

Florida next to New York and the US

Place	Price level	Housing	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent
Florida	103.4	122.1	$409,950	$2,253	$1,873
United States	100.0	100.0	$419,250	$2,304	$1,563
New York metro	112.6	148.6	$742,000	$4,078	$1,997

Florida cities we cover

City	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent	Price level
Lakeland	$329,000	$1,808	$1,437	97.1
Melbourne	$369,775	$2,032	$1,755	100.0
Daytona Beach	$374,950	$2,061	$1,638	99.4
Jacksonville	$379,000	$2,083	$1,642	99.5
Fort Myers	$379,900	$2,088	$1,849	102.3
Tampa	$385,398	$2,118	$1,861	100.9
Orlando	$410,000	$2,253	$1,855	101.4
Sarasota	$457,450	$2,514	$1,975	102.4

Metro areas in Florida

Metro	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home
Lakeland, FL	97.1	$1,437	$329,000
Daytona Beach, FL	99.4	$1,638	$374,950
Jacksonville, FL	99.5	$1,642	$379,000
Melbourne, FL	100.0	$1,755	$369,775
Tampa, FL	100.9	$1,861	$385,398
Orlando, FL	101.4	$1,855	$410,000
Fort Myers, FL	102.3	$1,849	$379,900
Sarasota, FL	102.4	$1,975	$457,450
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach	114.2	$2,211	$490,000

Florida next to its neighbors

State	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home	Net moves from other states
Florida	103.4	$1,873	$409,950	+22,517
Alabama	88.8	$1,103	$325,000	+23,358
Georgia	96.3	$1,524	$389,750	+27,333

Net moves from other states

Year (July to July)	Net moves from other states
2019-20	+174,645
2020-21	+253,220
2021-22	+310,892
2022-23	+183,646
2023-24	+58,411
2024-25	+22,517

States with a similar cost of living to Florida

Keep comparing

Florida cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Florida?

Everyday prices in Florida run 3.4% above the US average, the 41st lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 122.1 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $409,950 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $2,253 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,873 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $137,808 in Florida.

Is Florida cheap or expensive to live in?

More expensive than average. Florida's regional price parity is 103.4, 3.4% above the US average (BEA, 2024).

How much does a house cost in Florida?

The median listed home in Florida is $409,950 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 26th lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $2,253 a month.

How much is rent in Florida?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in Florida is $1,873 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).

What salary in Florida equals $150,000 in New York?

About $137,808, using BEA regional price parities for Florida (103.4) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.

Are people moving to Florida?

22,517 more people moved to Florida from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

Which Florida cities do you cover?

Lakeland ($329,000), Melbourne ($369,775), Daytona Beach ($374,950), Jacksonville ($379,000), Fort Myers ($379,900), Tampa ($385,398), Orlando ($410,000), Sarasota ($457,450). Each has its own page with monthly costs, weather and flights.

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.

Sources for this page