Cost of Living in Florida (FL)
Compare costs across 17 Florida cities. From home services to salaries, see how FL stacks up against the national average.
17
Cities
107
Avg Cost Index
$50K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
Florida's average cost index is 107, which is above the national baseline of 100. Lakeland is the most affordable tracked city in FL at index 92, while Key West is the most expensive at index 155.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 63 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
Florida Highlights: Most affordable city: Lakeland (index 92). Most expensive: Key West (index 155). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 63 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
107/100
Florida is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Lakeland
Lakeland has a cost index of 92.
Most expensive
Key West
Key West has a cost index of 155.
Income average
$50K
Average median household income across 17 tracked FL cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Florida
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 950K | 96 | $56K | large |
| Miami | 442K | 128 | $44K | major |
| Tampa | 385K | 102 | $56K | large |
| Orlando | 308K | 101 | $50K | large |
| Cape Coral | 205K | 100 | $58K | mid |
| Tallahassee | 196K | 96 | $46K | mid |
| Fort Lauderdale | 183K | 122 | $56K | mid |
| Gainesville | 141K | 96 | $36K | small |
| Palm Bay | 120K | 96 | $52K | mid |
| Clearwater | 117K | 102 | $49K | mid |
| Lakeland | 113K | 92 | $43K | mid |
| Pompano Beach | 112K | 108 | $44K | mid |
| Daytona Beach | 73K | 94 | $35K | small |
| Sarasota | 58K | 112 | $53K | small |
| Pensacola | 54K | 92 | $47K | small |
| Key West | 25K | 155 | $58K | small |
| Naples | 20K | 130 | $73K | small |
Florida State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Florida.
State Income Tax
0%
No income tax
Combined Sales Tax
7.05%
6% state + 1.05% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
0.86%
~$2,580/yr on a $300K home
Tax friendly: Florida has no state income tax - workers keep more of their paycheck. No state estate tax. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Lakeland if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Florida.
- Compare Key West against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.