Living in Florida is surprisingly inexpensive, and it’s a beautiful place to be. Florida is a very affordable state to live in. Rent prices in some parts of Florida are astronomically high due to Florida’s status as a vacation spot for the rich and famous. But there are many communities in the state that can be accessed more easily, offering moderately priced housing, which helps to balance the average rent profile.
The list of cheapest places to live in Florida was compiled based on a variety of factors, including cost of living, housing values, crime rates, and desirability to provide you with the most complete list of cities you might truly be interested in living in.
The following are the 10 extremely cheap places to live in Florida in 2021.
10 Extremely Cheap Places to Live in Florida
1. Fort Meade
Located in Central Florida, Fort Meade is known for its water activities like kayaking, canoeing, and tubing. With 77% owner-occupied homes and an average household size of 3.0 members, Fort Meade has a neighborhood feel. Throughout the city, you can live comfortably due to the low costs of living and steady job market.
Fort Meade, a suburb of Lakeland-Winter Haven, has a small-town feel despite being part of the larger metropolis. There is a walk score of 6 in Fort Meade, FL and a bike score of 27. The majority of errands must be accomplished by car. And because it’s only a few hours from Tampa, you can take advantage of the large city and its amenities when you want to.
Residents have the option of moving either on or off post, or to live in a nearby community. On-post Fort Meade offers housing ranging from single-family houses to apartments. Despite some older Fort Meade homes for sale, there are a wide variety of new homes available for sale.
Cost of living: 79.5
Rent on average: $547
NOTE: Approximately 100 is the US average cost of living index. A value below 100 indicates a lower cost of living compared to the US average.
2. Live Oak
It is located on Florida’s northern coast. There are 64% owner-occupied homes in Live Oak, and households have an average size of 2.9 persons. There are ten major highways running through the city, so it’s typically a small city people pass through.
Walking and biking are both rated 36 for Live Oak, Live Oak. Most errands must be run by car. Commuters in Live Oak, Live Oak can take VIA Metropolitan Transit (bus). A VIA Metropolitan Transit bus stop is located in Live Oak, Live Oak. Airports nearby include the San Antonio International Airport
It is a very small town, where everyone knows everyone else. You can have a family here or retire here. In addition, the sports teams are very active in the community. If you are looking for a place to lay down roots and get to know your neighbors, Live Oak is a great choice.
Cost of living: 82.6
Rent on average: $750
3. Quincy
In the heart of the action, Quincy is located about 30 miles from the capital, Tallahassee. Beaches are within a one-hour drive, and traffic is moderate. It is possible to find a nice home for less than $100,000 in Quincy. Local residents own their own homes instead of renting in the city.
With a cost of living that is 19.5% lower than the U.S. average, Quincy stands out from the rest of the country. Located in Quincy, FL, the median home value is $145000 and the median income is $52886. Quincy has many natural attractions as well. There is an Apalachicola River Blueway trail and a Lake Talquin state forest.
Cost of living: 80.5
Rent on average: $459
4. Lakeland
Lakeland, Florida, is about 40 miles northwest of Bartow. In this area, there are numerous lakes. Because the cost of living is slightly lower than the national average, residents receive value for their money. Because housing costs are much lower here than in Orlando and Tampa, you can live close to those cities without having to pay the extra costs of owning property there.
Lakeland is usually overlooked because it lies between two of Florida’s biggest metropolises, Orlando and Tampa. Since the metro area is relatively small, it lends itself to a small-town atmosphere where neighbors know one another and friends often run into one another while shopping or eating.
Cost of living: 86.4
Rent on average: $919
5. Defuniak Springs
DeFuniak Springs is a city on the Florida panhandle, about halfway between the Georgia-Florida line and the Gulf of Mexico. As a railroad officer’s resort town, it was named after the vice president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.
Living costs play a major role in deciding where to move. In Defuniak Springs, the cost of living is lower than the national average and those of most other cities in Florida. State and federal levels may be higher in some areas than others, but the overall average costs for housing, utilities, food, transportation, health care, and other goods and services are lower.
Renters occupy nearly 48.60% of the homes in DeFuniak Springs, compared with 36.2% nationally. On average, residents of DeFuniak Springs spend 750 dollars a month on housing, whereas national rent is $1,023.
Cost of living: 84.4
Rent on average: $800
6. Dunedin
Beach town Dunedin is located on the west coast of Florida, just north of Clearwater. A lot of waterfront properties in Texas are affordable in Fort Worth. In addition to white sand beaches, breathtaking sunsets are another major draw.
Dunedin’s cost of living is 8% less than that of the national average. In addition to being one of the country’s top retirement destinations, Dunedin is also a city that is very walkable. There are also the stunning, unspoiled beaches on Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island, often made into lists of the best beaches in America. It’s clear that we love this town, and we hope you do, too.
Cost of living: 105.0
Rent on average: $1,593
7. High Springs
Even though it seems like it’s in the middle of nowhere, this small town is about 30 minutes northwest of Gainesville. In case you prefer big city living, High Springs is an hour and a half west of Jacksonville.
According to Payscale, High Springs has a thriving economy, and it is very affordable, with the cost of living only 1% higher than most states in the country. In High Springs, you can expect to pay $167,800 for a home, which is almost 80% more than Florida’s average home price of $215,300. As a resident of High Springs, you’ll find that housing is less expensive, but food, transportation, and utilities will cost more. High Springs has a strong real estate market, so rentals are reasonably priced, with an average rent of around $998.
Cost of living: 92.2
Rent on average: $1,048
8. Cape Coral
In 1970, the Cape population was 10,000. Now there are over 250,000 residents. Boating, fishing, and nature viewing are all available in abundance on the city’s 400 miles of artificial canals. Mangrove forests, state parks, and reserves abound in the region. The endangered manatee is also common there.
Cape Coral, FL has a low cost of living compared to beach areas and is right around the national average. It’s a great deal! As with the national average, the average home price in Cape Coral is $231k. This is pretty astounding considering Florida has some amazing beach playgrounds! There are many homes for sale and builders continue to build them.
Cost of living: 103.9
Rent on average: $1,221
9. Gainesville
Despite its close proximity to Florida’s University of Florida, Gainesville is nicknamed “Tree City” due to the beautiful trees that grow in its forests. It is the perfect combination of modern cities and smaller towns. College towns offer the fast pace of big cities and the small-town community of a college town.
Several things are quite cheaper than the national average. Gainesville’s cost of healthcare is 16.4% lower than the national average. Utilities are also 2.2% cheaper. Many things are in Gainesville’s favor. There are 13% fewer renters there, and 14.2% fewer road users! Gainesville residents often enjoy luxuries not available to those living in Florida.
Cost of living: 89.9
Rent on average: $1,076
10. Edgewater
Edgewater is a unique area of Southern New Jersey that consists of a strip of waterfront home as well as a landlocked area surrounded by Interstate 95. Daytona Beach and Orlando are within an hour’s drive from here, and you can easily make day trips there as well.
Edgewater offers a variety of landscapes, which are best for outdoor recreation. Fishing can be found at George R. Kennedy Memorial Park, and there are some of the top campgrounds in the state.
In terms of cost of living, Edgewater is ranked 170 out of 273 cities in the United States. Edgewater’s cost of living compares with the national average by 91.3%, making it an average city within the US.
An individual’s overall monthly expenditure is determined by factors such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and other miscellaneous items. If you are single or married, or have kids, and own your house vs. rent, your monthly expenses may differ.
Cost of living: 91.2
Rent on average: $924
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