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.
Is Florida Affordable?
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.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Florida is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Lakeland has a cost index of 92.
Key West has a cost index of 155.
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 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.
Cost by Category Across Florida
Business Startup Costs
Legal Services
Compare Cities Within Florida
Explore Other States
Popular Florida cost & affordability searches
- → Cost of living in Jacksonville, FL
- → Cost of living in Miami, FL
- → Cost of living in Tampa, FL
- → Cost of living in Orlando, FL
- → Cost of living in Cape Coral, FL
- → Cost of living in Tallahassee, FL
- → Average rent in Jacksonville, FL
- → Average rent in Miami, FL
- → Average rent in Tampa, FL
- → Salary needed to live in Jacksonville
- → Salary needed to live in Miami
- → Salary needed to live in Tampa
Frequently Asked Questions: Florida Cost of Living
What is the cost of living in Florida?
Florida's average cost-of-living index is 107, which is 7% above the U.S. baseline of 100. Across 17 tracked cities, costs span from index 92 in Lakeland to 155 in Key West.
What is the cheapest city to live in Florida?
Lakeland is the most affordable tracked city in Florida, with a cost index of 92 — roughly 8% below the national average.
What is the most expensive city in Florida?
Key West is the most expensive tracked city in Florida, at a cost index of 155. The gap between Lakeland and Key West is 63 index points, so always budget at the city level.
What is the average household income in Florida?
The average median household income across 17 tracked Florida cities is about $50,346 per year.
Does Florida have a state income tax?
No. Florida has no state income tax, so workers keep more of each paycheck compared with high-income-tax states.
How much is sales tax in Florida?
The combined sales tax in Florida averages 7.05% — 6% at the state level plus 1.05% in average local tax.