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.

By Kenny Zhu

(Last Updated – 04/2025)

The birthplace of bourbon, Abraham Lincoln, and the famed Kentucky Derby has a lot to be proud of.

From the majestic foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the legendary distilleries of the “bourbon trail,” Kentucky is chock-full of history, beauty, and culture.

Its 4.5 million residents can testify that there are plenty of reasons to check out the Bluegrass State, and its low cost of living is one of them. Here are details about the various expenses that make up the cost of living in Kentucky.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Kentucky?

Average Cost of Living in Kentucky: $47,272 per year

The average cost of living in Kentucky is $47,272 per person, according to recent personal consumption expenditure data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Living in Kentucky is generally very affordable; Kentucky was ranked the state with the seventh-lowest cost of living in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.

Here’s a breakdown of the average annual expenditures by category.

Housing Costs in Kentucky

Average Housing Costs in Kentucky: $794 to $1,393 per month

Kentucky’s typical home value in February 2025 was $211,465, Zillow said. Compare that with the national median sales price of $357,138 for U.S. homes, according to Zillow.

Kentucky housing prices are more affordable than the rest of the country for both renting and owning.

However, Kentucky isn’t immune to the rising home prices seen around the country. Kentucky home prices rose 4.7% over the past year, which is actually faster than the average growth in U.S. home prices over that same period: 3.0%, according to Redfin.

Recent census data provides a sense of typical monthly housing costs.

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,393

•  Median studio rent: $794

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $797

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $917

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,078

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $1,099

•  Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $1,309

•  Median gross rent: $929

Housing costs will vary depending on your location. Take a look at the typical home values for major cities in Kentucky, according to Zillow February 2025 housing data.

Utility Costs in Kentucky

Average Utility Costs in Kentucky: $359 per month

Utility expenses will take a bite out of your monthly budget. Here are some of the typical utility charges that Kentuckians pay every month.

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 Kentucky: $352 per person, per month

If Kentucky’s average monthly cost for nonrestaurant food and groceries is $4,226, that’s about $352 a month.

Of course, food costs will vary widely depending on where you live within the state. For example, food in Lexington can be more affordable when compared with other major cities in the south. On the same scale, a more cosmopolitan city like Louisville is more costly.

Below are the city rankings from the most recent report by the Council for Community and Economic Research for food costs in Kentucky and four of its neighboring states, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Kentucky: $10,480 to $19,500 per year

Whether you’re commuting to work or making an annual pilgrimage to see the University of Kentucky’s Wildcats play, transportation costs can add up. What’s more, these figures will change depending on the size of your household.

Here’s a breakdown of transportation costs in Kentucky, according to the most recent data from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator.

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Kentucky: $9,463 per person, per year

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ latest report, annual health care costs in Kentucky are typically around $9,463 per person. That works out to around $789 per person per month.

The total costs will vary depending on the quality of an individual’s health insurance and their medical needs.

Those looking for affordable health insurance in Kentucky can find more information through the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Kentucky: $750 to $1,189 per child, per month

Child care costs can really put a dent in parents’ budgets. How much of a dent can depend on the type of care sought.

For parents unable to bear the full brunt, the state Child Care Assistance Program helps eligible families pay for child care.

Typical costs in Kentucky, according to CostofChildCare.org.

Taxes

Kentucky state income tax: 4.0%

Kentucky is one of 11 states with a single-rate income tax structure, meaning that all Kentucky residents pay the same income tax rate regardless of how much they earn.

Meanwhile, the majority of U.S. states employ graduated-rate income tax structures, as does the federal government.

A flat tax of 4.0% is levied on income earned in Kentucky as of January 1, 2025, which is slightly below the national average. However, local cities and counties can levy additional income taxes on top of the state tax.

According to the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index, Kentucky ranks 22nd in terms of its effective tax rate, placing it in the lower-to-middle end of the country when it comes to tax burdens. Tax burden measures the total amount of taxes paid, including sales, income, and property taxes.

Miscellaneous Costs

Now that we’re done with everyday expenses, let’s take a look at the price tags on the local food and fun that Kentucky’s known for.

•  General admission tickets to the Kentucky Derby: start at $75

•  A “Hot Brown” open faced sandwich smothered in gravy at The Brown Hotel in Louisville: $31

•  A 30-minute tour at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont: $20 (adults 21+)

•  A mint julep at The Silver Dollar in Louisville: $12

•  Ticket to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory tour: $24 (ages 13-59), $23 (60+), $16 (6-12), Free (5 and younger).

Dressing up in Southern digs and attending the Kentucky Derby costs as little as $75, but choice seats for the Derby can easily cost thousands of dollars, and exclusive seats for the elite few can cost almost $300,000 for the most luxury of suites.

Whiskey aficionados will fit right in, as Kentucky happens to be the birthplace of bourbon; legend has it that Elijah Craig invented Kentucky bourbon using charred barrel-aging techniques. Today, 95% of the world’s bourbon is made and aged in Kentucky.

Connoisseurs who want to check out the bourbon production process can take the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which tours some of Kentucky’s most famous distilleries. Admission to each distillery can cost anywhere from $5 to $20, and locations open to tours include household names like Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, and Maker’s Mark.

Whether you’re munching on a Hot Brown sandwich while sipping any kind of “coke,” or enjoying mint juleps at the Derby, the Bluegrass State has something for everyone.

A word about that nickname: It’s not about music; it’s about grass.

Recommended: Average Monthly Expenses for One Person

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

According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, the average single, childless individual working a standard 40-hour work week, 52 weeks a year, needs to earn $20.09 per hour, or approximately $41,787 a year, to qualify for a living wage.

As mentioned, Kentucky has the seventh-lowest cost of living in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings. Within the Southeast, Kentucky has the third-lowest cost of living among 12 states.

MERIC ranks Kentucky a bit less affordable, placing the state 17th in its most recent Cost of Living data series. That means Kentucky is still among the 25 states with the lowest cost of living, in MERIC’s assessment.

What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in the Southeast?

To give you a sense of how the cost of living compares in Kentucky, here are two of its cities’ cost-of-living details, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index.

By Jacqueline DeMarco

(Last Updated – 03/2025)

People can’t seem to get enough of those Idaho potatoes. Why do we say that? According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, Idaho’s population grew at a rate of 8.8% over the last four years. Compared to the percent population growth across the entire country, which was just 2.6% during that same period, Idaho is growing by leaps and bounds.

Even though it has just over 2 million residents, Idaho still only averages around 14 people per square mile. Compared to California, which hosts 253 residents per square mile on average, Idaho is roomy!

Let’s take a closer look at what it costs to build a life in the Gem State.

What’s the Average Cost of Living in Idaho?

Average Cost of Living in Idaho: $46,270 per year

If you move to Idaho, you won’t be looking at a particularly expensive or particularly affordable lifestyle. According to the most recent Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) data collected from the annual Council for Community & Economic Research (C2ER) survey, Idaho has the 32nd-lowest cost of living in the United States — the 18th highest, in other words.

For a lower cost of living, you might want to head to Montana, which ranked 22nd on MERC’s list, or to Wyoming, which has the 25th lowest cost of living per the C2ER survey.

While these rankings give a general idea of how expensive a state is to live in, you may still wonder: What is the average cost of living in Idaho?

You can expect to spend about $46,270 a year on total personal consumption, according to recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis . This is how that lump sum breaks down.

That’s about $3,856 in average monthly expenses for each Idahoan.

Housing Costs in Idaho

Average Housing Costs in Idaho: $963 to $1,772 per month

Housing is likely your biggest ongoing expense, no matter what state you live in. The typical Idaho home value was about $456,464 in February 2025, compared with a typical U.S. home value of $357,138 nationwide, according to Zillow.

Home sales in Idaho have settled down from a frenzied pace in 2021, when nearly 40% of homes sold above list price (an indicator that they received multiple offers). As of February 2025, just over 10% of homes sold above list price, showing a less competitive housing market per Redfin data.

Whether you own or rent, as well as how large your rental is, can affect how much you’ll spend monthly. Here’s what that spending might look like, according to the most recent census data:

•  Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,610

•  Median studio rent: $1,151

•  Median one-bedroom rent: $963

•  Median two-bedroom rent: $1,183

•  Median three-bedroom rent: $1,558

•  Median four-bedroom rent: $1,772

•  Median five-bedroom (or more) rent: $1,748

•  Median gross rent: $1,256

The specific area of Idaho you live in can also affect how much you’ll spend. These are the typical home values for some of Idaho’s major cities, according to recent Zillow data.

Utility Costs in Idaho

Average Utility Costs in Idaho: $299 per month

Another ongoing expense you need to budget for is utilities. This is what that spending may look like in an average month in Idaho.

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 Idaho: $318 per person, per month

How much should you anticipate spending on food in Idaho?

The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Idaho’s average annual (nonrestaurant) food cost is $3,813 per person, so that’s about $318 a month.

The Council for Community and Economic Research ranks the food costs in major American cities. The only Idaho city researchers examined was Boise. To put that data in some perspective, here are grocery item index scores from major cities in neighboring states. These are their respective grocery costs ranking using the most recent data.

Transportation

Average Transportation Costs in Idaho: $10,849 to $20,188 per year

How much you’ll spend getting around each year is affected by where you live and what your or your family’s transportation needs are.

Here’s a glimpse at what it may cost to get from place to place in Idaho, according to the most recent data from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator.

Health Care

Average Health Care Costs in Idaho: $7,507 per person, per year

Health care is a major expense in every state in the country. In Idaho, the average annual cost of health care is $7,507 per person, according to the most recent report of Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures by State.

How much you would actually spend depends on location, medical needs, and coverage.

Child Care

Average Child Care Costs in Idaho: $728 to $1,002 or more per child, per month

Funding child care is a challenge for many parents, which isn’t surprising when you can spend around $1,000 a month on child care in states like Idaho.

Residents who need help financing child care in Idaho can look into the Idaho Child Care Program, which pays part of child care costs for eligible working families.

This is what the average child care costs are in Idaho, according to the most recent data from CostofChildCare.org.

Taxes

Highest Marginal Tax Rate in Idaho: 5.695%

As of January 1, 2025, Idaho assesses a flat rate of 5.695% on taxable income, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets.

Idaho’s flat rate of 5.695% is the second highest among the current flat tax states, of which there are 15 states, including Idaho (Washington state topped the list with a rate of 7%). The most recent ranking of State Tax Competitiveness puts Idaho at 11th among the most competitive tax systems.

High taxes do compel folks to seek greener pastures. In fact, in the last fiscal year, Idaho was the second most popular destination for Americans moving to new states where the taxes were lower.

Miscellaneous Costs

Now that we know what it costs to live in Idaho, let’s dive into what it costs to have some fun in this state.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis says personal expenditures for the average Idahoan are $23,909 per year. Here’s where some of that spending may be going (costs are accurate as of March 2025).

•  A family visit to Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve in Arco, Carey, and Rupert, Idaho: $20 a day, for seven consecutive days, for a group entering in a single private vehicle. Visit historic lava flow sites, caves, and more in this “weird and scenic landscape.”

•  A 25-minute narrated ferry boat tour of the Snake River near Idaho Falls: $8-$40, varies by weight (kids under 30 lbs ride free).

•  A trip to Zoo Boise to get up close with the animals: $0 to $13 depending on age.

•  A single-day lift ticket at Schweitzer mountain near Sandpoint: $63 (ages 7-17), $105 (ages 18-64), $95 (ages 65-79).

•  Trick a friend with an optical illusion for dessert and try an “ice cream potato” at the Westside Drive in located in Boise: $6.69

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

What it means to live “comfortably” in Idaho will depend on your lifestyle, income, family size, and more. That said, you can get a general idea of how accessible living comfortably is in each state.

Idaho ranks 23rd on U.S. News & World Report’s Affordability Rankings, which measure the average cost of living in each state against the average amount of money most households have there. The state came out higher on the magazine’s overall ranking, however, as the 5th best state overall.

MERIC viewed the affordability in Idaho less favorably, ranking the state as having the 32nd lowest cost of living in the United States (or 18th highest).

What City Has the Lowest Cost of Living in and Around Idaho?

The Council for Community and Economic Research focused on just Boise in their affordability study, but here’s how the city stacks up to two other nearby cities with similar populations.