With Florida’s excellent weather and Disney being nearby, you might expect it would be hard to find a cheap place to live. But Florida is cheap.
But where exactly are the most affordable places to live in Florida?
To identify the most affordable places to live in Florida, we used Saturday Night Science to look at housing costs relative to incomes for every place in the state. Cheaper places include suburbs of bigger cities like Miami and those a bit further from the coast.
But it’s Florida, so the beach is just a short drive away from some of the cheapest places to live in the Sunshine State.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Florida
What is the cheapest place to live in Florida? The cheapest place to live in Florida is Palatka. A great place to live in the Sunshine State if you like paddling over lakes.
If you are looking for a cheap place to live by the beach, check out Perry, Florida. No matter where you end up with these top 10, you know you will have one thing: a bank that isn’t broke.
Check out some more reading about Florida and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Florida For 2025
/10
Population: 10,558
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $33,628
Median Home Price: $112,300
Median Rent: $914
Palatka stands out as a beacon of budget-friendly living in Florida in the heart of Putnam County. It has a median home value of $112,300, securing the fourth lowest spot in Florida — a significant savings on housing.
Renters rejoice with an impressive income-to-rent ratio with a $914 average rent ranking as the 11th cheapest. You’ll also save on cheap things to do, like a visit to Ravine Gardens State Park or fishing along the St. Johns River.
More on Palatka: Data
/10
Population: 6,965
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $44,815
Median Home Price: $122,900
Median Rent: $949
Perry, Florida’s gateway to the North, is our second most affordable city in the Sunshine State for 2025.
This city in Taylor County is the seventh most affordable city in terms of home to income ratio. They are only 106th in terms of cheapest rent to income ratio. We think it’s because the good people of Perry want you to buy instead of rent. They want YOU to call Perry home.
Perry is pretty popular for its cool bicycle trails to and from the local state parks. So, while saving for your first home in Perry, might we suggest bicycle mechanic as a lucrative side hustle.
More on Perry: Data
/10
Population: 5,569
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $48,252
Median Home Price: $183,400
Median Rent: $998
Located almost dead center between Gainesville and Orlando, right in the middle of the state, is Belleview. The cost of living in this “City with Small Town Charm” is 20% lower than the overall cost of living in Florida. While almost every aspect of living here is cheaper, home prices are the main driver of affordability. The median home price sits at $183,400, the 20th lowest mark in the state. Rents are equally cheap. You can score a rental for a median price of $998 per month.
Much of the social scene in Belleview revolves around Lake Lillian. There are events held by the lake almost year round including easter egg hunts, lights at night during the winter, and annual events that honor the city’s history. In the same vein, there are many parks and hikes in the surrounding area that make the town a great place for families that everyone can afford.
More on Belleview: Data
/10
Population: 13,768
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $51,077
Median Home Price: $241,800
Median Rent: $1,540
Orange City, located in Volusia County, is the fourth most affordable city in Florida for 2025. The city has an overall cost of living that is 14.3% lower than the state average.
Its $241,800 home costs and $1,540 rents fall below the Sunshine State averages. From your home in Orange City, you can swim with manatees at Blue Spring State Park, take a ferry to Hontoon Island State Park, or visit the Florida Postal Museum.
Orange you glad I said Orange City.
More on Orange City: Data
/10
Population: 11,185
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $42,072
Median Home Price: $175,000
Median Rent: $974
Sebring ranked as the fifth most affordable city in Florida. Its overall cost of living index of 84 is 14 points better than the state average.
Living in Sebring lets you ring in the new year with lower transportation, service, and grocery costs than other Florida cities. Instead, you can spend your money grabbing a ticket to Sebring International Raceway or visiting Lake Jackson.
More on Sebring: Data
/10
Population: 9,235
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $47,796
Median Home Price: $112,400
Median Rent: $1,070
Like most cities on this list, Brooksville is another Central Florida town with high affordability. With a low overall cost of living index of 84, housing, services, and healthcare are all relatively cheap in Brooksville.
Brooksville maintains a high standard of living for its 9,235 residents. It shines as a stellar selection for those prioritizing wallet-wise choices without skimping on services. One of the cheap things to do in Brooksville is to visit the Withlacoochee State Forest
More on Brooksville: Data
/10
Population: 7,571
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $38,388
Median Home Price: $158,900
Median Rent: $886
Arcadia forms an almost perfect triangle with Sarasota and Fort Myers. It also forms a perfectly inexpensive place to live in Florida.
With a median home price of $158,900 and an average income of $38,388, Arcadia offers a fine place to buy a home away from the more expensive coasts. You’ll find your groceries and services significantly cheaper in this part of Florida.
More on Arcadia: Data
Exactly, I have lived in Arcadia 8 years, IIRC the closest Bass Pro is located in Ft Myers. Love the Peace river, I have spent countless hours fossil hunting and camping. Shot a big hog with a.44 muzzleloading revolver from about 80 ft. The ball went thro both lungs. We ate good for a while.
/10
Population: 6,901
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $53,578
Median Home Price: $158,200
Median Rent: $880
Where Alligator HWY 90 meets Alligator HWY 129 is our eighth most affordable city in Florida for 2025, Live Oak. Located in northern Florida, agriculture, timber, and technology have been keeping the economy in this little Suwannee County city moving in right direction.
The median income, here, is close to $53,578 with average home prices up around $158,200. So it’s no surprise that Live Oak scored off our charts in terms of snackability. They are the eighth most affordable city when we looked at home price to income ratio. Affordability = happiness. We get why your city’s motto is “A Caring Community”.
More on Live Oak: Data
/10
Population: 64,903
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $53,520
Median Home Price: $219,900
Median Rent: $1,230
In Marion County, Florida, Ocala act as both the county seat and the ninth most affordable. Housing is notably less expensive, with a median home value of $219,900 and rent at a reasonable $1,230.
Ocala’s cost of living index score of 85 is 13 points better than the state average. Forty-five minutes south of Gainesville, I bet you can’t wait to call Ocala home.
More on Ocala: Data
/10
Population: 13,002
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $46,360
Median Home Price: $168,600
Median Rent: $1,277
Holly Hill, located in the north of Volusia County, sneaked onto the list of the cheapest places to live in Florida. The city’s $168,600 median home value earns it the title of 16th most budget-friendly housing market across the Sunshine State.
Holly Hill is a great place to live on a budget without compromising your quality of life. You can enjoy visiting the Holly Hill History Museum, the Copper Bottom Craft Distillery, or Sunrise Park on the cheap.
More on Holly Hill: Data
Cheapest places to live in Florida FAQs
The county in Florida with the lowest cost of living is Suwannee County. The average living wage in Suwannee County is $78,392 according to MIT data. Suwannee County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Florida as a whole. Childcare costs $11,498 a year in Suwannee County for two children compared to the Florida average of $16,916. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,808 per year in Suwannee County compared to $15,237 on average in Florida.
The cost of living in Florida is 2.4% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Florida is $91,891 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Florida household is $57,703.
The cheapest housing market in Florida is Pembroke Park. The average home value in Pembroke Park is $47,100, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Florida is $232,000, almost 4.9 times higher than Pembroke Park.
Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Sunshine State for 2025
Determining affordability for places in Florida boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 for Florida using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Florida to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 220 places in Florida that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Florida with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Palatka.
We updated this article for 2025. This report reflects our tenth time ranking the cheapest places to live in Florida.
Florida Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Florida for 2025, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Florida.
The cheapest cities in Florida are Palatka, Perry, Belleview, Orange City, Sebring, Brooksville, Arcadia, Live Oak, Ocala, and Holly Hill.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Florida according to the data:
- Key Biscayne
- Palm Beach
- Pinecrest
For more Florida reading, check out:
- Most Dangerous Places In Florida
- Best Places To Buy A House In Florida
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Florida
Cheapest Places To Live In Florida
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palatka | 10,558 | 81 | $33,628 | $112,300 | $914 |
| 2 | Perry | 6,965 | 82 | $44,815 | $122,900 | $949 |
| 3 | Belleview | 5,569 | 82 | $48,252 | $183,400 | $998 |
| 4 | Orange City | 13,768 | 84 | $51,077 | $241,800 | $1,540 |
| 5 | Sebring | 11,185 | 84 | $42,072 | $175,000 | $974 |
| 6 | Brooksville | 9,235 | 84 | $47,796 | $112,400 | $1,070 |
| 7 | Arcadia | 7,571 | 84 | $38,388 | $158,900 | $886 |
| 8 | Live Oak | 6,901 | 84 | $53,578 | $158,200 | $880 |
| 9 | Ocala | 64,903 | 85 | $53,520 | $219,900 | $1,230 |
| 10 | Holly Hill | 13,002 | 85 | $46,360 | $168,600 | $1,277 |
| 11 | Avon Park | 9,879 | 85 | $36,845 | $119,600 | $909 |
| 12 | Fruitland Park | 8,482 | 85 | $78,359 | $375,100 | $1,131 |
| 13 | Leesburg | 28,461 | 86 | $47,506 | $214,300 | $1,169 |
| 14 | Zephyrhills | 18,471 | 86 | $49,295 | $191,700 | $1,034 |
| 15 | New Port Richey | 17,057 | 86 | $46,160 | $164,600 | $1,154 |
| 16 | Lake City | 12,404 | 86 | $51,175 | $178,600 | $940 |
| 17 | Quincy | 7,818 | 86 | $34,126 | $101,700 | $1,022 |
| 18 | Inverness | 7,672 | 86 | $44,899 | $168,100 | $982 |
| 19 | Okeechobee | 5,376 | 86 | $50,365 | $187,400 | $1,008 |
| 20 | South Daytona | 13,322 | 87 | $54,931 | $210,500 | $1,287 |
| 21 | Macclenny | 7,558 | 87 | $63,640 | $227,500 | $1,294 |
| 22 | Marianna | 6,815 | 87 | $36,346 | $98,300 | $841 |
| 23 | Starke | 5,821 | 87 | $46,291 | $200,200 | $867 |
| 24 | Fort Meade | 5,172 | 87 | $35,131 | $141,500 | $919 |
| 25 | Largo | 82,506 | 88 | $60,465 | $208,500 | $1,482 |
| 26 | Fort Pierce | 48,094 | 88 | $46,745 | $220,500 | $1,194 |
| 27 | DeFuniak Springs | 6,284 | 88 | $51,883 | $163,200 | $821 |
| 28 | Lake Wales | 16,365 | 89 | $55,799 | $225,900 | $1,060 |
| 29 | Lady Lake | 16,337 | 89 | $47,260 | $217,900 | $1,361 |
| 30 | Dade City | 7,570 | 89 | $63,041 | $211,900 | $1,002 |
| 31 | Dundee | 5,604 | 89 | $41,550 | $224,500 | $1,600 |
| 32 | Jacksonville | 961,739 | 90 | $66,981 | $266,100 | $1,375 |
| 33 | Palm Bay | 125,273 | 90 | $67,521 | $248,000 | $1,487 |
| 34 | Lakeland | 117,030 | 90 | $60,947 | $229,100 | $1,299 |
| 35 | Daytona Beach | 75,924 | 90 | $50,130 | $244,300 | $1,239 |
| 36 | Haines City | 31,156 | 90 | $58,227 | $250,700 | $1,216 |
| 37 | Tavares | 19,738 | 90 | $57,644 | $225,500 | $1,409 |
| 38 | Green Cove Springs | 9,937 | 90 | $66,907 | $283,200 | $1,285 |
| 39 | Lake Alfred | 6,803 | 90 | $68,854 | $226,800 | $1,348 |
| 40 | Pahokee | 5,539 | 90 | $50,464 | $137,500 | $912 |
| 41 | Deltona | 95,682 | 91 | $72,967 | $254,100 | $1,547 |
| 42 | Titusville | 49,004 | 91 | $64,898 | $243,100 | $1,281 |
| 43 | Panama City | 34,211 | 91 | $61,125 | $243,200 | $1,334 |
| 44 | Bartow | 19,801 | 91 | $66,944 | $210,400 | $1,073 |
| 45 | Cocoa | 19,330 | 91 | $56,553 | $215,700 | $1,180 |
| 46 | Palmetto | 13,449 | 91 | $61,538 | $256,700 | $1,286 |
| 47 | Milton | 10,485 | 91 | $72,676 | $195,600 | $1,542 |
| 48 | Springfield | 8,157 | 91 | $51,640 | $177,500 | $1,329 |
| 49 | Kenneth City | 5,025 | 91 | $49,375 | $224,100 | $1,567 |
| 50 | Melbourne | 85,718 | 92 | $64,504 | $272,900 | $1,411 |
| 51 | Winter Haven | 52,846 | 92 | $59,604 | $248,200 | $1,200 |
| 52 | Eustis | 23,567 | 92 | $62,475 | $245,400 | $995 |
| 53 | Stuart | 18,058 | 92 | $64,409 | $291,300 | $1,540 |
| 54 | Belle Glade | 16,818 | 92 | $47,191 | $141,100 | $875 |
| 55 | Mascotte | 7,407 | 92 | $80,114 | $286,200 | $1,536 |
| 56 | Pembroke Park | 6,254 | 92 | $50,710 | $103,700 | $1,532 |
| 57 | Port Orange | 63,818 | 93 | $68,955 | $287,900 | $1,448 |
| 58 | Bradenton | 56,289 | 93 | $60,964 | $282,500 | $1,475 |
| 59 | Pensacola | 54,011 | 93 | $72,699 | $276,500 | $1,209 |
| 60 | Pinellas Park | 53,423 | 93 | $62,043 | $251,900 | $1,506 |
| 61 | Davenport | 11,660 | 93 | $65,157 | $297,000 | $2,875 |
| 62 | Orange Park | 9,062 | 93 | $74,564 | $257,400 | $1,355 |
| 63 | Clewiston | 7,257 | 93 | $57,110 | $210,000 | $729 |
| 64 | Sanford | 62,292 | 94 | $62,877 | $272,900 | $1,496 |
| 65 | Casselberry | 29,473 | 94 | $57,816 | $272,600 | $1,524 |
| 66 | Edgewater | 23,314 | 94 | $58,805 | $238,700 | $1,392 |
| 67 | Auburndale | 17,438 | 94 | $68,267 | $272,700 | $1,127 |
| 68 | Newberry | 7,608 | 94 | $100,513 | $268,800 | $1,047 |
| 69 | Gainesville | 143,611 | 95 | $45,611 | $235,000 | $1,214 |
| 70 | Palm Coast | 94,362 | 95 | $71,840 | $317,200 | $1,747 |
| 71 | Lauderhill | 73,961 | 95 | $49,685 | $244,500 | $1,620 |
| 72 | Palm Springs | 26,871 | 95 | $59,602 | $234,500 | $1,597 |
| 73 | Tarpon Springs | 25,522 | 95 | $68,877 | $321,000 | $1,234 |
| 74 | Callaway | 13,297 | 95 | $69,388 | $215,300 | $1,319 |
| 75 | Gulfport | 11,735 | 95 | $68,617 | $335,100 | $1,487 |
| 76 | High Springs | 6,396 | 95 | $80,973 | $263,800 | $1,707 |
| 77 | Tallahassee | 199,696 | 96 | $55,931 | $276,000 | $1,238 |
| 78 | St. Cloud | 61,963 | 96 | $76,196 | $324,100 | $1,528 |
| 79 | Ormond Beach | 43,514 | 96 | $67,482 | $320,300 | $1,332 |
| 80 | Plant City | 40,009 | 96 | $64,536 | $251,500 | $1,334 |
| 81 | DeLand | 39,832 | 96 | $73,352 | $303,500 | $1,159 |
| 82 | St. Petersburg | 260,646 | 97 | $73,118 | $331,500 | $1,542 |
| 83 | Kissimmee | 79,504 | 97 | $51,277 | $273,900 | $1,553 |
| 84 | Lauderdale Lakes | 35,924 | 97 | $44,333 | $203,100 | $1,518 |
| 85 | Fort Walton Beach | 20,956 | 97 | $66,556 | $296,000 | $1,268 |
| 86 | Groveland | 20,621 | 97 | $92,258 | $344,000 | $1,579 |
| 87 | Opa-locka | 16,097 | 97 | $31,680 | $281,000 | $1,225 |
| 88 | Alachua | 10,638 | 97 | $78,526 | $285,700 | $1,132 |
| 89 | Port St. Lucie | 220,453 | 98 | $78,137 | $327,700 | $1,781 |
| 90 | North Port | 80,512 | 98 | $81,940 | $328,700 | $1,738 |
| 91 | Altamonte Springs | 45,657 | 98 | $64,106 | $263,600 | $1,624 |
| 92 | Greenacres | 43,871 | 98 | $62,917 | $244,700 | $1,709 |
| 93 | Rockledge | 28,279 | 98 | $83,009 | $305,800 | $1,706 |
| 94 | Crestview | 28,046 | 98 | $69,279 | $266,500 | $1,312 |
| 95 | Temple Terrace | 26,922 | 98 | $65,756 | $306,200 | $1,489 |
| 96 | Sebastian | 25,759 | 98 | $68,863 | $281,700 | $1,414 |
| 97 | Seminole | 19,336 | 98 | $77,335 | $312,700 | $1,645 |
| 98 | Wildwood | 16,739 | 98 | $71,858 | $419,700 | $1,578 |
| 99 | Minneola | 15,371 | 98 | $102,968 | $386,700 | $2,064 |
| 100 | Cape Canaveral | 9,976 | 98 | $70,585 | $323,900 | $1,156 |