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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
A 86-point spread tells the whole story in Florida: Tallahassee at index 87 vs. Miami at 173. The difference translates to roughly $1,480/month in rent alone ($1,484 vs. $2,964). Which side of that divide you land on shapes your entire budget. Full 22-city ranking below.
202,221 residents · Florida
Why Tallahassee ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 87 on the cost index, residents save roughly 24% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,484/month while the median household pulls in $55,931/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 87, though Healthcare (97) lags behind. Home prices average $286,955 — $180,415 below the national median.
985,843 residents · Florida
Jacksonville earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 92 cost index sits 19 points below the national baseline, and the $66,981 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $282,367 — $185,003 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 92, while Healthcare trails at 98.
145,812 residents · Florida
So, Gainesville. Cost index of 94, rent at $1,604/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $45,611, which is below the national median. It lines up with what you'd expect.
122,264 residents · Florida
Here's Lakeland by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And depending on your situation, cost index: 98. Rent: $1,678/month. Income: $60,947/year. Home price: $309,289. Population: 122,264. The strongest category is Housing at 98; the most expensive is Healthcare at 100. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,604 per year vs. the national median. If you've ever felt priced out, the numbers here offer a different path.
320,742 residents · Florida
The #5 spot goes to Orlando, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,857/month — saving renters $456 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 102, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 108. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
#1 Ranked: Tallahassee — cost index 87, rent $1,484/mo, income $55,931
86-point cost gap between #1 and #22
6 of 22 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tallahassee | $1,484 | 87 | Details |
| 2 | Jacksonville | $1,576 | 92 | Details |
| 3 | Gainesville | $1,604 | 94 | Details |
| 4 | Lakeland | $1,678 | 98 | Details |
| 5 | Orlando | $1,857 | 108 | Details |
| 6 | Palm Bay | $1,866 | 109 | Details |
| 7 | Cape Coral | $1,898 | 111 | Details |
| 8 | Clearwater | $1,904 | 111 | Details |
| 9 | Tampa | $1,968 | 115 | Details |
| 10 | St Petersburg | $2,048 | 120 | Details |
| 11 | Hollywood | $2,237 | 131 | Details |
| 12 | West Palm Beach | $2,256 | 132 | Details |
| 13 | Pompano Beach | $2,302 | 134 | Details |
| 14 | Davie | $2,330 | 136 | Details |
| 15 | Port St Lucie | $2,350 | 137 | Details |
| 16 | Coral Springs | $2,373 | 138 | Details |
| 17 | Hialeah | $2,437 | 142 | Details |
| 18 | Miramar | $2,565 | 150 | Details |
| 19 | Pembroke Pines | $2,582 | 151 | Details |
| 20 | Fort Lauderdale | $2,718 | 159 | Details |
| 21 | Miami Gardens | $2,756 | 161 | Details |
| 22 | Miami | $2,964 | 173 | Details |
A 86-point spread tells the whole story in Florida: Tallahassee at index 87 vs. Miami at 173. The difference translates to roughly $1,480/month in rent alone ($1,484 vs. $2,964). Which side of that divide you land on shapes your entire budget. Full 22-city ranking below.
Tallahassee earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 87 cost index sits 24 points below the national baseline, and the $55,931 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $286,955 — $180,415 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 87, while Healthcare trails at 97.
Look, Rent data is sourced from Zillow's Observed Rent Index (ZORI), which tracks the median rent across all active listings — not just new leases. This gives a more representative and stable signal than asking prices alone. Tallahassee: $1,484/mo, Jacksonville: $1,576/mo, Gainesville: $1,604/mo. The cheapest city here is $411 under the national median — that's $4,932/year in savings on rent alone.
Bottom line: Tallahassee leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
Tallahassee (index 87) and Miami (index 173) sit 86 points apart on the cost index — proof that Florida is far from monolithic in affordability.
Rent ranges from $1,484/mo in Tallahassee to $2,964/mo in Miami — a monthly difference of $1,480, or $17,760 per year.
Tallahassee ranks #1 in Florida for this analysis with a cost index of 87 and median income of $55,931.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Tallahassee (ranked #1) has a cost index of 87 and rent of $1,484/mo, while Miami (ranked #22) has a cost index of 173 and rent of $2,964/mo — a 86-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Tallahassee is $1,484/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $411 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Tallahassee is $286,955, which is 5.1× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Florida has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.05%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.8%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.