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 2024
/10
Population: 10,471
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $30,945
Median Home Price: $196,151
Median Rent: $792
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 $196,151, securing the fifth lowest spot in Florida — a significant savings on housing.
Renters rejoice with an impressive income-to-rent ratio with a $792 average rent ranking as the sixth 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,879
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $45,833
Median Home Price: $176,562
Median Rent: $941
Perry, Florida’s gateway to the North, is our second most affordable city in the Sunshine State for 2024.
This city in Taylor County is the fourth most affordable city in terms of home to income ratio. They are only 95th 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,438
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $49,007
Median Home Price: $248,069
Median Rent: $954
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 $248,069, the 20th lowest mark in the state. Rents are equally cheap. You can score a rental for a median price of $954 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,254
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $49,681
Median Home Price: $290,267
Median Rent: $1,453
Orange City, located in Volusia County, is the fourth most affordable city in Florida for 2024. The city has an overall cost of living that is 14.3% lower than the state average.
Its $290,267 home costs and $1,453 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,006
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $38,024
Median Home Price: $237,729
Median Rent: $875
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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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Population: 8,981
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $42,047
Median Home Price: $309,026
Median Rent: $1,020
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 8,981 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,480
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $34,598
Median Home Price: $249,838
Median Rent: $873
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 $249,838 and an average income of $34,598, 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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: 6,811
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 84
Median Income: $43,664
Median Home Price: $244,802
Median Rent: $763
Where Alligator HWY 90 meets Alligator HWY 129 is our eighth most affordable city in Florida for 2024, 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 $43,664 with average home prices up around $244,802. So it’s no surprise that Live Oak scored off our charts in terms of snackability. They are the 92nd 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 63,504
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $50,618
Median Home Price: $270,146
Median Rent: $1,166
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 $270,146 and rent at a reasonable $1,166.
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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,919
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 85
Median Income: $40,908
Median Home Price: $226,209
Median Rent: $1,156
Holly Hill, located in the north of Volusia County, sneaked onto the list of the cheapest places to live in Florida. The city’s $226,209 median home value earns it the title of 12th 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 | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
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 2024
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 2018-2022 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 2024. 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 2024, 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:
Cheapest Places To Live In Florida
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palatka | 10,471 | 81 | $30,945 | $196,151 | $792 |
| 2 | Perry | 6,879 | 82 | $45,833 | $176,562 | $941 |
| 3 | Belleview | 5,438 | 82 | $49,007 | $248,069 | $954 |
| 4 | Orange City | 13,254 | 84 | $49,681 | $290,267 | $1,453 |
| 5 | Sebring | 11,006 | 84 | $38,024 | $237,729 | $875 |
| 6 | Brooksville | 8,981 | 84 | $42,047 | $309,026 | $1,020 |
| 7 | Arcadia | 7,480 | 84 | $34,598 | $249,838 | $873 |
| 8 | Live Oak | 6,811 | 84 | $43,664 | $244,802 | $763 |
| 9 | Ocala | 63,504 | 85 | $50,618 | $270,146 | $1,166 |
| 10 | Holly Hill | 12,919 | 85 | $40,908 | $226,209 | $1,156 |
| 11 | Avon Park | 9,789 | 85 | $35,340 | $206,581 | $802 |
| 12 | Fruitland Park | 8,219 | 85 | $70,167 | $297,255 | $1,171 |
| 13 | Leesburg | 27,226 | 86 | $43,733 | $289,686 | $1,073 |
| 14 | Zephyrhills | 17,575 | 86 | $45,745 | $294,800 | $1,012 |
| 15 | New Port Richey | 16,742 | 86 | $42,254 | $315,600 | $1,095 |
| 16 | Lake City | 12,307 | 86 | $46,172 | $243,468 | $952 |
| 17 | Quincy | 7,811 | 86 | $33,786 | $155,529 | $827 |
| 18 | Inverness | 7,602 | 86 | $42,282 | $246,176 | $911 |
| 19 | Okeechobee | 5,319 | 86 | $44,922 | $262,927 | $1,021 |
| 20 | South Daytona | 13,132 | 87 | $54,898 | $272,719 | $1,175 |
| 21 | Macclenny | 7,354 | 87 | $62,134 | $294,654 | $997 |
| 22 | Marianna | 6,681 | 87 | $27,296 | $188,923 | $741 |
| 23 | Starke | 5,756 | 87 | $42,976 | $210,354 | $1,023 |
| 24 | Fort Meade | 5,133 | 87 | $34,474 | $219,967 | $846 |
| 25 | Largo | 82,541 | 88 | $56,266 | $357,692 | $1,350 |
| 26 | Fort Pierce | 47,153 | 88 | $45,121 | $284,402 | $1,106 |
| 27 | DeFuniak Springs | 6,072 | 88 | $56,455 | $212,049 | $844 |
| 28 | Lake Wales | 16,455 | 89 | $55,833 | $243,883 | $1,000 |
| 29 | Lady Lake | 16,047 | 89 | $46,694 | $326,124 | $1,275 |
| 30 | Dade City | 7,221 | 89 | $63,493 | $264,323 | $1,033 |
| 31 | Dundee | 5,373 | 89 | $44,936 | $283,595 | $1,167 |
| 32 | Jacksonville | 950,203 | 90 | $64,138 | $293,086 | $1,281 |
| 33 | Palm Bay | 121,513 | 90 | $62,538 | $313,458 | $1,345 |
| 34 | Lakeland | 114,404 | 90 | $58,290 | $292,407 | $1,217 |
| 35 | Daytona Beach | 73,329 | 90 | $47,608 | $260,125 | $1,186 |
| 36 | Haines City | 28,922 | 90 | $57,718 | $308,536 | $1,193 |
| 37 | Tavares | 19,088 | 90 | $54,271 | $310,065 | $1,191 |
| 38 | Green Cove Springs | 9,758 | 90 | $63,760 | $339,953 | $952 |
| 39 | Lake Alfred | 6,555 | 90 | $62,311 | $289,846 | $1,201 |
| 40 | Pahokee | 5,548 | 90 | $36,289 | $205,750 | $643 |
| 41 | Deltona | 94,373 | 91 | $69,074 | $302,985 | $1,417 |
| 42 | Titusville | 48,595 | 91 | $56,700 | $280,164 | $1,156 |
| 43 | Panama City | 34,254 | 91 | $57,221 | $275,540 | $1,221 |
| 44 | Bartow | 19,424 | 91 | $60,974 | $258,817 | $1,027 |
| 45 | Cocoa | 19,073 | 91 | $53,900 | $303,056 | $1,044 |
| 46 | Palmetto | 13,384 | 91 | $55,584 | $392,169 | $1,222 |
| 47 | Milton | 10,254 | 91 | $70,299 | $278,323 | $1,528 |
| 48 | Springfield | 8,295 | 91 | $52,188 | $206,994 | $1,224 |
| 49 | Kenneth City | 5,043 | 91 | $51,073 | $309,768 | $1,424 |
| 50 | Melbourne | 84,982 | 92 | $60,917 | $374,800 | $1,303 |
| 51 | Winter Haven | 50,778 | 92 | $56,425 | $285,939 | $1,113 |
| 52 | Eustis | 23,101 | 92 | $59,941 | $333,774 | $883 |
| 53 | Stuart | 17,639 | 92 | $61,878 | $389,245 | $1,372 |
| 54 | Belle Glade | 16,896 | 92 | $42,314 | $256,880 | $780 |
| 55 | Mascotte | 6,985 | 92 | $64,896 | $320,862 | $1,227 |
| 56 | Pembroke Park | 6,266 | 92 | $41,875 | $256,411 | $1,426 |
| 57 | Port Orange | 62,849 | 93 | $65,026 | $359,733 | $1,355 |
| 58 | Bradenton | 55,795 | 93 | $55,795 | $388,561 | $1,367 |
| 59 | Pensacola | 54,059 | 93 | $67,722 | $257,979 | $1,150 |
| 60 | Pinellas Park | 53,352 | 93 | $62,306 | $319,993 | $1,356 |
| 61 | Davenport | 10,246 | 93 | $64,428 | $365,508 | $1,968 |
| 62 | Orange Park | 9,047 | 93 | $67,035 | $317,996 | $1,167 |
| 63 | Clewiston | 7,252 | 93 | $50,538 | $240,766 | $770 |
| 64 | Sanford | 61,272 | 94 | $59,181 | $344,862 | $1,402 |
| 65 | Casselberry | 29,092 | 94 | $56,833 | $349,775 | $1,371 |
| 66 | Edgewater | 23,138 | 94 | $56,886 | $303,689 | $1,262 |
| 67 | Auburndale | 16,432 | 94 | $67,661 | $307,785 | $989 |
| 68 | Newberry | 7,401 | 94 | $90,547 | $329,975 | $895 |
| 69 | Gainesville | 142,414 | 95 | $43,783 | $289,220 | $1,151 |
| 70 | Palm Coast | 91,082 | 95 | $68,824 | $359,006 | $1,621 |
| 71 | Lauderhill | 73,987 | 95 | $48,523 | $233,276 | $1,496 |
| 72 | Palm Springs | 26,692 | 95 | $55,254 | $283,430 | $1,457 |
| 73 | Tarpon Springs | 25,355 | 95 | $63,836 | $424,180 | $1,060 |
| 74 | Callaway | 13,455 | 95 | $61,743 | $258,507 | $1,225 |
| 75 | Gulfport | 11,796 | 95 | $60,461 | $398,423 | $1,361 |
| 76 | High Springs | 6,283 | 95 | $76,760 | $304,958 | $1,451 |
| 77 | Tallahassee | 198,259 | 96 | $52,899 | $279,088 | $1,165 |
| 78 | St. Cloud | 59,851 | 96 | $69,366 | $406,123 | $1,470 |
| 79 | Ormond Beach | 43,127 | 96 | $65,238 | $394,764 | $1,230 |
| 80 | Plant City | 39,655 | 96 | $62,015 | $341,318 | $1,232 |
| 81 | DeLand | 38,392 | 96 | $71,439 | $375,692 | $1,144 |
| 82 | St. Petersburg | 259,343 | 97 | $70,333 | $375,897 | $1,410 |
| 83 | Kissimmee | 78,478 | 97 | $45,319 | $367,593 | $1,419 |
| 84 | Lauderdale Lakes | 35,914 | 97 | $41,644 | $162,956 | $1,386 |
| 85 | Fort Walton Beach | 20,919 | 97 | $61,820 | $331,452 | $1,181 |
| 86 | Groveland | 19,240 | 97 | $84,347 | $374,635 | $1,599 |
| 87 | Opa-locka | 16,230 | 97 | $30,101 | $356,499 | $1,115 |
| 88 | Alachua | 10,570 | 97 | $72,491 | $322,612 | $1,119 |
| 89 | Port St. Lucie | 210,520 | 98 | $75,040 | $391,794 | $1,684 |
| 90 | North Port | 76,975 | 98 | $78,815 | $354,098 | $1,547 |
| 91 | Altamonte Springs | 45,772 | 98 | $61,714 | $299,187 | $1,474 |
| 92 | Greenacres | 43,651 | 98 | $58,981 | $301,116 | $1,603 |
| 93 | Rockledge | 27,808 | 98 | $80,759 | $399,816 | $1,538 |
| 94 | Crestview | 27,427 | 98 | $61,311 | $299,193 | $1,211 |
| 95 | Temple Terrace | 26,818 | 98 | $62,415 | $327,406 | $1,372 |
| 96 | Sebastian | 25,266 | 98 | $65,650 | $356,073 | $1,303 |
| 97 | Seminole | 19,287 | 98 | $69,417 | $401,887 | $1,417 |
| 98 | Wildwood | 15,735 | 98 | $68,121 | $281,943 | $1,475 |
| 99 | Minneola | 14,406 | 98 | $91,435 | $468,876 | $1,787 |
| 100 | Cape Canaveral | 9,980 | 98 | $68,495 | $357,812 | $1,047 |
