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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Top 5 separated by only 4 points. The race is tight: Coral Springs, Davie, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale are all within 4 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
#1 Ranked: Coral Springs — cost index 122, rent $2,373/mo, income $90,643
Top 5 separated by only 4 points
10 of 22 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Income | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coral Springs | $90,643 | 122 | $2,373 | Details |
| 2 | Davie | $87,171 | 121 | $2,330 | Details |
| 3 | Miramar | $86,109 | 125 | $2,565 | Details |
| 4 | Pembroke Pines | $81,675 | 124 | $2,582 | Details |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale | $79,935 | 126 | $2,718 | Details |
| 6 | Port St Lucie | $78,137 | 115 | $2,350 | Details |
| 7 | Cape Coral | $76,062 | 106 | $1,898 | Details |
| 8 | St Petersburg | $73,118 | 109 | $2,048 | Details |
| 9 | Tampa | $71,302 | 108 | $1,968 | Details |
| 10 | Orlando | $69,268 | 107 | $1,857 | Details |
| 11 | West Palm Beach | $69,261 | 114 | $2,256 | Details |
| 12 | Palm Bay | $67,521 | 104 | $1,866 | Details |
| 13 | Jacksonville | $66,981 | 98 | $1,576 | Details |
| 14 | Hollywood | $65,359 | 116 | $2,237 | Details |
| 15 | Clearwater | $64,440 | 106 | $1,904 | Details |
| 16 | Pompano Beach | $63,832 | 113 | $2,302 | Details |
| 17 | Miami Gardens | $60,979 | 125 | $2,756 | Details |
| 18 | Lakeland | $60,947 | 101 | $1,678 | Details |
| 19 | Miami | $59,390 | 134 | $2,964 | Details |
| 20 | Tallahassee | $55,931 | 97 | $1,484 | Details |
| 21 | Hialeah | $53,079 | 119 | $2,437 | Details |
| 22 | Gainesville | $45,611 | 99 | $1,604 | Details |
Top 5 separated by only 4 points. The race is tight: Coral Springs, Davie, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale are all within 4 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
This is one of the closest races in our database: the top 5 cities are separated by just 4 points on the cost index. Coral Springs, Davie, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale are all within striking distance. At this margin, secondary factors — taxes, rent trends, category-specific costs — become the tiebreakers. Here's the full breakdown.
Coral Springs earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And for the typical household, the 122 cost index sits 10 points above the national baseline, and the $90,643 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $517,563 — $50,193 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 112, while Housing trails at 154.
Against the national baseline, though: Here's the state-level backdrop: Florida averages a 113 cost index, $2,171/mo rent, and $69,398 income across 22 cities. That's $276 more than the national rent average. No income tax, booming migration, and rising rents — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Bottom line: Coral Springs 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 (that's pre-tax, of course).
134,906 residents · Florida
Coral Springs earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 122 cost index sits 10 points above the national baseline, and the $90,643 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $517,563 — $50,193 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 112, while Housing trails at 154.
107,799 residents · Florida
Why Davie ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 121 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 9% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $2,330/month while the median household pulls in $87,171/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 111, though Housing (152) lags behind. Home prices average $512,190 — $44,820 above the national median.
138,319 residents · Florida
What does daily life actually cost in Miramar? Start with the 36% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Utilities (index 115) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 161) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $86,109 and homes at $514,738 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons (that's pre-tax, of course).
171,119 residents · Florida
What does daily life actually cost in Pembroke Pines? Start with the 38% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Utilities (index 114) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 159) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $81,675 and homes at $485,730 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons.
184,255 residents · Florida
So, Fort Lauderdale. Cost index of 126, rent at $2,718/month. It's higher than the national average. Median income is $79,935, which is below the national median. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Coral Springs | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
2Davie | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
3Miramar | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
4Pembroke Pines | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
5Fort Lauderdale | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
6Port St Lucie | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
7Cape Coral | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
8St Petersburg | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
9Tampa | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
10Orlando | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $68,714 |
Cities are ranked by median household income from Census ACS data. We also show cost-adjusted purchasing power (income ÷ cost index) to reveal which high-income cities actually deliver the most real-world spending power. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Coral Springs ranks #1 in Florida for this analysis with a cost index of 122 and median income of $90,643.
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.
Coral Springs (ranked #1) has a cost index of 122 and rent of $2,373/mo, while Gainesville (ranked #22) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,604/mo — a 23-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 Coral Springs is $2,373/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $478 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Coral Springs is $517,563, which is 5.7× 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.