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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. Jacksonville proves it with a cost index of 92, the lowest in Florida, and we've ranked all 22 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
985,843 residents · Florida
A closer look at Jacksonville: the cost index of 92 breaks down to a Housing index of 92 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 98 (weakest). Median rent is $1,576/month — 17% below the national median — while household income sits at $66,981, meaning locals spend about 28% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
455,924 residents · Florida
Miami is one of the cheaper options here. That's more or less in line with the region. Rent is $2,964/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 173. Income sits at $59,390. Fairly typical for a city this size.
403,364 residents · Florida
The #3 spot goes to Tampa, and the breakdown explains why. And as far as the data shows, renters here pay $1,968/month — costing renters $876 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 103, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 115. The 33% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
320,742 residents · Florida
Here's Orlando by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 108. Rent: $1,857/month. Income: $69,268/year. Home price: $370,828. Population: 320,742. The strongest category is Healthcare at 102; the most expensive is Housing at 108. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $456 per year vs. the national median. This is worth factoring into any relocation decision.
263,553 residents · Florida
A closer look at St Petersburg: the cost index of 120 breaks down to a Healthcare index of 104 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 120 (weakest). And from what we can tell, median rent is $2,048/month — 8% above the national median — while household income sits at $73,118, meaning locals spend about 34% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
#1 Ranked: Jacksonville — cost index 92, rent $1,576/mo, income $66,981
Jacksonville is a clear outlier at index 92
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 | Jacksonville | 92 | $1,576 | Details |
| 2 | Miami | 173 | $2,964 | Details |
| 3 | Tampa | 115 | $1,968 | Details |
| 4 | Orlando | 108 | $1,857 | Details |
| 5 | St Petersburg | 120 | $2,048 | Details |
| 6 | Port St Lucie | 137 | $2,350 | Details |
| 7 | Cape Coral | 111 | $1,898 | Details |
| 8 | Hialeah | 142 | $2,437 | Details |
| 9 | Tallahassee | 87 | $1,484 | Details |
| 10 | Fort Lauderdale | 159 | $2,718 | Details |
| 11 | Pembroke Pines | 151 | $2,582 | Details |
| 12 | Hollywood | 131 | $2,237 | Details |
| 13 | Gainesville | 94 | $1,604 | Details |
| 14 | Miramar | 150 | $2,565 | Details |
| 15 | Palm Bay | 109 | $1,866 | Details |
| 16 | Coral Springs | 138 | $2,373 | Details |
| 17 | West Palm Beach | 132 | $2,256 | Details |
| 18 | Lakeland | 98 | $1,678 | Details |
| 19 | Clearwater | 111 | $1,904 | Details |
| 20 | Pompano Beach | 134 | $2,302 | Details |
| 21 | Miami Gardens | 161 | $2,756 | Details |
| 22 | Davie | 136 | $2,330 | Details |
Let's be honest: Florida isn't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Jacksonville proves it with a cost index of 92, the lowest in Florida, and we've ranked all 22 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
Dive into Jacksonville's numbers: cost index 92 — we had to double-check this one — (19 points below national average), rent $1,576/month, income $66,981, and a home price of $282,367. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 92, while Healthcare runs 98. As a major city with 985,843 residents, amenities and job markets are robust.
Tax burden isn't just income tax. And more often than not, we combine three layers: state income tax (0% in Jacksonville), combined state+local sales tax (7.05%), and effective property tax (0.8%). Florida has no state income tax — a significant advantage that keeps more of every paycheck. On a $75,000 salary, the estimated take-home in #1 Jacksonville is $57,710/year.
Here's the surprising part: Jacksonville is a clear outlier at index 92 — for better or worse — . #1-ranked Jacksonville has a cost index 30 points lower than the top-5 average of 122. That's not a marginal lead — it's a category of its own.
The broader context shifts things: Here's the state-level backdrop: Florida averages a 127 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: Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville has a cost index 30 points lower than the top-5 average of 122. That's not a marginal lead — it's a category of its own.
Jacksonville (index 92) and Davie (index 136) sit 44 points apart on the cost index — proof that Florida is far from monolithic in affordability.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Jacksonville | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
2Miami | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
3Tampa | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
4Orlando | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
5St Petersburg | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
6Port St Lucie | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
7Cape Coral | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
8Hialeah | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
9Tallahassee | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
10Fort Lauderdale | 0% | 7.05% | 0.8% | $52,068 |
Jacksonville ranks #1 in Florida for this analysis with a cost index of 92 and median income of $66,981.
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.
Jacksonville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 92 and rent of $1,576/mo, while Davie (ranked #22) has a cost index of 136 and rent of $2,330/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 Jacksonville is $1,576/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $319 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Jacksonville is $282,367, which is 4.2× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. 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.