Cost of Living in Florida

By Jacqueline DeMarco

(Last Updated – 03/2025)

There’s a reason Florida is called the Sunshine State. Along with really fresh orange juice, Florida residents enjoy an average of 237 sunny days every year, compared with the U.S. average of 205.

You also don’t have to worry about any snowy days, because Florida averages zero inches of snow per year, whereas the nationwide average is 28 inches.

All of those beach days are appealing, but how much does it cost to live in the boating and fishing capital of the world? Let’s take a closer look at the numbers to see what the cost of living in Florida is so you can decide if living in Florida makes sense for your wallet.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Florida?

Average Cost of Living in Florida: $60,204 per year

If you dream of days spent on sandy Florida beaches, your wallet is in luck. Florida residents enjoy the 35th-lowest cost of living in the United States — or 15th-highest — according to the most recent MERIC data. While 35th place may not seem like much to brag about, when you compare what it would cost you to enjoy California’s beaches as a resident, your monthly budget is getting a break. California has the third-highest cost of living in the country.

Rankings give a look at the bigger picture, but what is the cost of living in Florida? Using the most recent data, the Bureau of Economic Analysis found that the average total personal consumption cost in Florida is $60,204 per year. Here’s how that breaks down.

That translates to about $5,017 per person, per month.

Housing Costs in Florida

Average Housing Costs in Florida: $1,480 to $2,725 per month

No matter where you live, one of your largest ongoing expenses will be paying for housing. Florida has around 10.5 million housing units, according to the most recent census data, so there’s an array of housing options throughout the state. How much do those housing options cost? Zillow listed the typical value of Florida homes at about $385,851 in February 2025, compared with a U.S. median existing-home value of $357,138 the previous month.

Here’s what monthly housing prices can look like in Florida, according to the latest census data:

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,860

•  Median studio rent: $1,480

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $1,506

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $1,712

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,933

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $2,205

•  Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $2,725

•  Median gross rent: $1,719

Housing prices vary throughout the state, so let’s examine the typical home values for 20 major Florida cities, per Zillow, in February 2025. Here they are, from lowest to highest.

Utility Costs in Florida

Average Utility Costs in Florida: $422 per month

Utility costs can vary a lot, depending on your state, whether you rely on natural gas, the size and age of your home, and age of appliances. Here’s what you can expect to spend in Florida.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price; Statista.com, “Average monthly residential utility costs in the United States, by state”; DoxoInsights, U.S. Cable & Internet Market Size and Household Spending Report; and Rentcafe.com, What Is the Average Water Bill?

Groceries & Food

Average Grocery & Food Costs in Florida: $395 per person, per month

One ongoing expense is groceries and eating out. Where you live can affect how much you’ll spend on food.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that the average Floridian’s annual nonrestaurant food cost is $4,736, so that’s about $395 per month. A family of four can expect to spend $1,576 per month on groceries, more or less.

The Council for Community and Economic Research, which ranks the food costs in major American cities, ranked Florida cities’ most recent average grocery costs from lowest to highest.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Florida: $9,103 to $16,938 per year

No matter where you live in the country, transportation costs can add up. Throw kids into the mix, and costs rise.

Here’s what transportation can cost in Florida, according to the most recent data from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator.

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Florida: $8,996 per person, per year

The average annual per-capita cost of health care in Florida is $8,996, the most recent Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures by State report found.

It’s worth noting that how much you spend on health care will depend on your unique medical needs and health insurance coverage.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Florida: $702 to $1,364 or more per child, per month

Many parents know the struggle of budgeting for child care. Where you live and the type of care you choose can have an effect on how much you spend.

In Florida if you need care for an infant, you’ll find that home-based family child care is much less expensive than an infant classroom. But once your child gets a little bit older, you’ll save by choosing the toddler classroom route. Let’s take a look at average child care costs in Florida, per recent data from CostofChildCare.org.

Taxes

Highest Marginal Tax Rate in Florida: None

Ready for some good news? Florida residents aren’t charged any state income tax, as noted by the Tax Foundation’s State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets.

If you like the idea of getting away from state income taxes, then you’ll appreciate that the following states also don’t charge state income tax: Alaska, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. The state of Washington does not charge a state income tax, but does tax capital gains income of high-earning individuals at 7%.

Miscellaneous Costs

Now that you have a general idea of what the essentials will cost you, let’s chat about some of the nonessentials that make life fun.

If personal expenditures average $33,112 per person, per year in Florida, this is where Floridians may be spending some of that money (costs are accurate as of March 2025):

•  Disney has 4 theme parks and 2 water parks for the family to enjoy in Florida. Walt Disney World annual passes at the park in Orlando, start at $469 per year (plus tax), per person and go as high as $1,549, with additional options to add on. A single-day theme park ticket for ages 10 and up starts at $119. Florida residents are eligible for discounted tickets and passes.

•  A day at the Miami Zoo is a much more affordable way to enjoy some family time. Tickets are $25.95 for adults, $21.95 for kids 3-12, and children 2 and under are free.

•  To get up close and personal with the alligators Florida is famous for, Gatorland tickets start at $24.99 (kids 3-12) and $34.99 (adults), with additional discounts also available for the theme park in Southchase.

•  Dine like a true Floridian with a slice of key lime pie from Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen in Key Largo: $6.99

•  Visit Dry Tortugas National Park via boat with a trip on the Yankee Freedom Ferry from Key West. Adult tickets start at $235 and include lunch, snorkeling equipment, entrance fee to the historic fort, and more. Discounts are available.

•  The best news is that a day spent on one of Florida’s beaches won’t set you back anything, aside from parking and snacks. Approximately 90% of Florida’s beaches and coastal access points are open to the public.

Recommended: What Are the Average Monthly Expenses for One Person?

How Much Money Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Florida?

While your definition of what it means to live comfortably will be unique to you and your needs, we all have a basic standard of living we hope to meet without having to feel excess financial pressure. If you have your heart set on moving to Florida, you may or may not find it hard to live comfortably.

According to U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings, Florida is 39 out of 50. That finding falls close to the MERIC data that ranked Florida the 35th most expensive state.

What Cities Have a Low Cost of Living in Florida?

These three Florida cities have the lowest cost of living, according to the most recent Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index composite scores.