How Much Does It Cost to Live in Florida?
- Last updated on: August 3, 2022
What is the average cost of living in Florida?
The average cost of living in Florida is $2,919.38 per month.
Florida is the home of Disneyland World, Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, and some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. Moving to Florida would mean enjoying an average of 237 sunny days every year, compared with the U.S. average of 205 and zero inches of snow per year, whereas the nationwide average is 28 inches.
Despite being one of the most popular vacations and retirement destinations in the U.S., Florida is an affordable state to live in. According to the Cost of Living Index, the average cost of living in Florida is not even 1% higher than the national average. According to Numbeo.com, the rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Florida is $1,746.00.
In this article, we have covered everything you need to know before moving to the boating and fishing capital of the world. So let us take a look!
(*Sofi)
Cost of living in Florida- 2022
Housing cost in Florida
No matter where you live, one of your most significant ongoing expenses will be paying for housing. Florida residents enjoy the 32nd-lowest cost of living in the United States. Florida has around 10 million housing units, according to the 2019 census.
Below is the list of the rental costs of some famous cities in Florida:
CITY | STUDIO | 1 BEDROOM | 2 BEDROOM | 3 BEDROOM | 4 BEDROOM |
ORLANDO | $1,828 | $1,706 | $1,871 | $2,338 | $2,596 |
TAMPA | $2,064 | $1,764 | $2,012 | $2,455 | $2,954 |
FORT LAUDERDALE | $1,940 | $2,033 | $2,761 | $3,983 | $5,671 |
JACKSONVILLE | $1,173 | $1,298 | $1,493 | $1,848 | $2,131 |
LAKELAND | $995 | $1,100 | $1,333 | $2,029 | $2,374 |
Below is the list of the housing costs to buy an apartment in some famous cities in Florida:
APARTMENT | PRICE PER SQUARE METER |
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Center | $343.26 |
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Center | $169.73 |
CITY | MEDIAN COST |
ORLANDO | $321,666 |
TAMPA | $310,378 |
FORT LAUDERDALE | $375,082 |
JACKSONVILLE | $301,415 |
LAKELAND | $253,711 |
Housing prices vary throughout the state greatly depending on the location.
What is the average rent cost for a 1-bedroom apartment in Florida?
The median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city is $1,746.00 per month.
Utility cost in Florida: Internet, electricity & water
Whether you own a house or pay the rent, you must cover the utility cost. Florida’s utility costs are pretty much the same as the national average. Keep in mind, since it gets hot in Florida, one needs to have enough budget for the air conditioners.
The average basic utility package that includes heating, electricity, water, and garbage in some famous cities of Florida is as follows:
UTILITIES | COST PER MONTH IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN FLORIDA | ||||
ORLANDO | TAMPA | FORT LAUDERDALE | JACKSONVILLE | LAKELAND | |
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | $179.03 | $156.46 | $132.33 | $145.36 | $158.05 |
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $72.50 | $63.87 | $67.42 | $69.55 | $61.14 |
What is the average cost of utilities in Florida?
The average cost of utilities (Internet, electricity & water) in Florida is $235.87 per month.
Grocery cost in Florida
Food is another everyday expense that significantly impacts the overall cost of living in an area. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that the cost of food varies from state to state.
|
GROCERY |
COST PER MONTH IN DIFFERENT CITIES OF FLORIDA |
|||||
|
ORLANDO |
TAMPA |
FORT LAUDERDALE |
JACKSONVILLE |
LAKELAND |
||
|
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
$3.93 |
$4.08 |
$4.19 |
$3.96 |
$3.75 |
|
|
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
$2.66 |
$3.20 |
$2.89 |
$3.07 |
$2.49 |
|
|
Rice (white), (1 lb) |
$1.92 |
$1.80 |
$2.03 |
$1.42 |
$2.04 |
|
|
Eggs (regular) (12) |
$3.20 |
$3.31 |
$2.57 |
$3.41 |
$2.24 |
|
|
Local Cheese (1 lb) |
$4.74 |
$6.18 |
$4.99 |
$5.57 |
$6.43 |
|
|
Chicken Filets (1 lb) |
$4.65 |
$4.55 |
$5.25 |
$5.90 |
$8.99 |
|
|
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
$6.09 |
$6.27 |
$8.37 |
$6.51 |
$6.43 |
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.28 |
$2.02 |
$1.88 |
$2.31 |
$1.49 |
|
|
Banana (1 lb) |
$0.64 |
$0.74 |
$0.76 |
$0.70 |
$0.57 |
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.70 |
$1.72 |
$2.06 |
$2.42 |
$3.53 |
|
|
Tomato (1 lb) |
$1.55 |
$1.98 |
$2.18 |
$2.14 |
$2.29 |
|
|
Potato (1 lb) |
$1.23 |
$1.30 |
$1.37 |
$1.92 |
$2.56 |
|
|
Onion (1 lb) |
$1.15 |
$1.19 |
$1.34 |
$1.66 |
$2.12 |
|
|
Lettuce (1 head) |
$1.99 |
$2.19 |
$1.97 |
$2.21 |
$2.48 |
|
|
Water (1.5-liter bottle) |
$1.62 |
$2.38 |
$2.00 |
$2.01 |
$2.00 |
|
|
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
$10.00 |
$10.00 |
$11.00 |
$9.75 |
$10.00 |
|
|
Domestic Beer (0.5-liter bottle) |
$1.89 |
$2.17 |
$3.85 |
$2.33 |
$2.84 |
|
|
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
$2.54 |
$4.22 |
$3.68 |
$3.36 |
$4.50 |
|
However, the food costs may vary depending on your area.
(*Sofi & Numbeo)
What is the average cost of groceries for 1 person in Florida?
The average cost of groceries for 1 person in Florida is $308.00 per month.
Public transport in Florida
Public transportation in Florida is not well organized, as a result, most people drive in Florida. According to GasBuddy, Florida’s gas prices average $4.64 per gallon.
Below is the list of public transport cost comparisons between some famous cities in Florida:
TRANSPORTATION | COST PER MONTH IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN FLORIDA | |||||
ORLANDO | TAMPA | FORT LAUDERDALE | JACKSONVILLE | LAKELAND | ||
MetroCards costs (single ride) | $2.00 | $2.00 | $2.00 | $1.75 | $1.50 | |
MetroCards Cost (Per Month) | $50.00 | $70.00 | $59.50 | $60.00 | $48.50 | |
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | $2.88 | $3.00 | $5.00 | $3.50 | $4.60 | |
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) | $2.99 | $4.00 | $2.40 | $1.95 | $1.00 | |
Gasoline (1 Gallon) | $4.64 | $4.59 | $4.72 | $4.65 | $4.72 | |
(*Numbeo & Transportation.gov)
What is the Florida Metro monthly pass price?
The Florida Metro monthly pass price is $58.00 in 2022.
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Entertainment costs in Florida
People across the country visit the famous Walt Disney World. However, Florida is also renowned for its beautiful beaches. Florida offers plenty of activities for active retirees, as well.
ENTERTAINMENT | COSTS IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN FLORIDA | ||||
ORLANDO | TAMPA | FORT LAUDERDALE | JACKSONVILLE | LAKELAND | |
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | $20.00 | $23.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | $15.00 |
Taxi 1-hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | $35.00 | $42.75 | $24.00 | $17.50 | $48.00 |
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | $13.00 | $14.00 | $12.00 | $14.00 | $11.00 |
(*Sofi & Numbeo)
What is the average cost of entertainment in Florida?
The average cost of entertainment in Florida is $63 per month.
Healthcare costs in Florida
Healthcare is an essential expense. Therefore, we always include healthcare costs in our budget when moving to any place. Health insurance costs in Florida will vary greatly depending on your health, medication costs, whether you rely on employer-provided or personal health insurance, and the number of individuals in your household.
The healthcare costs in Florida are as follows:
HEALTHCARE | COST |
Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person per month | $503 |
Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for a family of four per month | $1,307 |
Non-Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person | $467 |
Non-Employer-Sponsored Healthcare Couple with at least one child | $1,152 |
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $40.51 |
(*eHealth, Numbeo & Valuepenguin)
What is the average cost of a gym membership in Florida?
The average cost of a gym membership in Florida is $40.51 per month.
Sales tax in Florida
No matter what state we live in, we all follow the same format regarding income taxes. For example, Florida is a low-tax state. There is no state income tax in Florida, and the average effective property tax rate in Florida is 1.02%, which is less than the national average.
(*Smart Asset)
Conclusion
Moving to Florida is not so challenging because the cost of living in Florida is affordable. And, if rightly budgeted, you can live in Florida in no time. But, first, calculate the average cost of living in Florida, as mentioned in the table below:
Average monthly cost of living in Florida
Category
Description
Cost
Housing
Average rent price for a 1 bedroom apartment + Employer-Sponsored Healthcare for one person + Average utilities cost
$1,706 + $503 + $170.87
Transportation
Metro Pass (1 month)
$58.00
Food
Average grocery cost per person per month
$308.00
Internet
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$65.00
Entertainment (for 1 time only)
Meal Inexpensive restaurant + Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat + Taxi 1-hour Waiting
$20.00 + $35.00 + $13.00
Health and Fitness
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult
$40.51
Total
Sum
$2,919.38
Note: The cost mentioned above may vary; for instance, if you are living with someone, your cost will be considerably low. Also, if you have a family, you will need to add the cost of each family member. Finally, the price may also vary depending upon the area you select to live in.
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