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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be honest: Florida isn't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Coral Springs proves it with a cost index of 138, the lowest in Florida, and we've ranked all 22 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscap…
Let's be honest: Florida isn't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Coral Springs proves it with a cost index of 138, the lowest in Florida, and we've ranked all 22 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
Why Coral Springs ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 138 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 27% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $2,373/month while the median household pulls in $90,643/year. The Healthcare category is particularly strong at 108, though Housing (138) lags behind. Home prices average $517,563 — $50,193 above the national median.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Coral Springs (index 138, rent $2,373); Davie (index 136, rent $2,330); Miramar (index 150, rent $2,565). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
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.
#1 Ranked: Coral Springs — cost index 138, rent $2,373/mo, income $90,643
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 | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coral Springs | 138 | $2,373 | Details |
| 2 | Davie | 136 | $2,330 | Details |
| 3 | Miramar | 150 | $2,565 | Details |
| 4 | Pembroke Pines | 151 | $2,582 | Details |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale | 159 | $2,718 | Details |
| 6 | Port St Lucie | 137 | $2,350 | Details |
| 7 | Cape Coral | 111 | $1,898 | Details |
| 8 | St Petersburg | 120 | $2,048 | Details |
| 9 | Tampa | 115 | $1,968 | Details |
| 10 | Orlando | 108 | $1,857 | Details |
| 11 | West Palm Beach | 132 | $2,256 | Details |
| 12 | Palm Bay | 109 | $1,866 | Details |
| 13 | Jacksonville | 92 | $1,576 | Details |
| 14 | Hollywood | 131 | $2,237 | Details |
| 15 | Clearwater | 111 | $1,904 | Details |
| 16 | Pompano Beach | 134 | $2,302 | Details |
| 17 | Miami Gardens | 161 | $2,756 | Details |
| 18 | Lakeland | 98 | $1,678 | Details |
| 19 | Miami | 173 | $2,964 | Details |
| 20 | Tallahassee | 87 | $1,484 | Details |
| 21 | Hialeah | 142 | $2,437 | Details |
| 22 | Gainesville | 94 | $1,604 | Details |
134,906 residents · Florida
A closer look at Coral Springs: the cost index of 138 breaks down to a Healthcare index of 108 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 138 (weakest). Median rent is $2,373/month — 25% above the national median — while household income sits at $90,643, meaning locals spend about 31% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
107,799 residents · Florida
In plain English: What does daily life actually cost in Davie? Start with the 32% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Healthcare (index 107) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 136) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $87,171 and homes at $512,190 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
138,319 residents · Florida
Dive into Miramar's numbers: cost index 150 (39 points above national average), rent $2,565/month, income $86,109, and a home price of $514,738. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Healthcare is the cheapest category at 110, while Housing runs 150. With 138,319 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
171,119 residents · Florida
The #4 spot goes to Pembroke Pines, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $2,582/month — costing renters $8,244 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 110, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 151. The 38% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
184,255 residents · Florida
Fort Lauderdale earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 159 cost index sits 48 points above the national baseline, and the $79,935 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. That alone makes it worth considering. Homes list at $503,437 — $36,067 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 112, while Housing trails at 159.
Coral Springs ranks #1 in Florida for this analysis with a cost index of 138 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 138 and rent of $2,373/mo, while Gainesville (ranked #22) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,604/mo — a 44-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.