Additionally, it retains a small town charm that is perfect for young families. Hi Luann, if you are looking for a cheap and pet-friendly place to live in Florida, I will highly recommend Jacksonville. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Im tired of shoveling snow. We lived in south Florida our whole life and looking for a place to live that is more relaxing. Therefore, Lake Wales is one of the most affordable places to live in Florida, that also provides a safe community. The averagehomelisting pricein Gainesville is approximately $200,000, while the median sales price is around $120,000. Whether you are a digital nomad, an expat, a retiree or just moving to Florida to start a new life, you will find plenty of affordable places to live in Florida. Best State to Buy a Used Car: Florida. Food and utilities costs are also not that expensive. Also, it is the powerhouse of regional economic high-tech companies and subsidiaries along the Space Coast. You should have dinner at Shilohs Steak & Seafood, from where you get spectacular views of NASAs Kennedy Space Center. You will definitely get some ideas. 3. You may need to visit your current office to sign a release form. Thats according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (July 2019). Employment If you are planning to move to Florida, Jacksonville may be a perfect financial destination. Although, there are still plenty of things to do, from the numerous parks that surround the lake to the cute historic district on East Stuart Avenue that is filled with shops and restaurants. Explore 18 acres of landscape discovering unique trees and waterfalls at McKee Botanical Garden. For cheaper options, you may consider Ocala and Lakeland too. In December, the place feels so magical, the lights of Hope, and Christmas trees look so beautiful. So, where is the cheapest place to live in Florida that is also desirable? Health related expenses are 18.2% more in Miami. With a population of nearly 20,640 and a median home price of $139,500,Bartowhappens to be one of the most affordable places in Florida to live in. Related Post: 10 Fastest-Growing Cities in Florida. Jacksonville is located right at the top of the state, close to the border between Florida and Georgia. The annual cost of living for a single adult is $37,103 annually. Many states enjoy better weather than these two, but if youve limited yourself to just Illinois or Florida, Florida wins this. There were no federal stimulus checks in 2022, but at least 22 states gave money back to residents -- primarily in the form of income and property tax rebates, child tax credits and direct relief . Americans are moving to Floridafor better weather and lower taxes. Florida cost of living is 102.8. 10 Best States To Retire In 2020 New Hampshire. Higher insurance, healthcare, and housing costs mean not everyone will save money. This quiet, tree-lined suburb of Panama City is located right on the water of Floridas panhandle. It features various job opportunities such as statistician, cement mason, physician assistant, rodbuster, and many more. Florida by a large gap. Florida come in at 16th among all US states with a rate of just 3.3%. Surrounded by rolling hills, refreshing air, walkable streets, rare gorgeous downtown, and pasture lands, Dade City is the prime escapade location in Florida. The elevated health insurance rates are in part because Florida's employers generallydon't cover as much of the healthcare costs as those in other states do. Its housing cost is one of the lowest on this list at 36% lower than average, which makes South Daytona one of the most affordable places to live in Florida. Jacksonville is not only one of the largest cities in the United States, with an estimated population of 911,507 it is the most populous city in Florida. Population: 7,934 Cost of Living Index: 93 Average Home Price: $143,000 (46% below Florida average) Average Rent Price: $678 per month Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents: 19.5 (23% below Florida average) Unemployment Rate: 4.0% 10 Year Job Growth Outlook: +39% Location: See in Google Maps. The crime rate of these places is lower than the state and national average. Lower Overall Tax Burden Winner? You're probably surprised to see the most significant metropolitan city in Florida on the list of the cheapest places to live in the state, but Jacksonville is pretty reasonably priced. Based on all these factors, a single individual could be able to live comfortably on an average budget of around $2300-2800 a month. Especially, if you love water, then Jax can be a heaven to you. The cost of living in Orlando, FL is -13.7% lower than in Chicago, IL.You would have to earn a salary of $51,755 to maintain your current standard of living. Here you can enjoy a more suburban life with a simple standard of living. Whereas veterinary visit is around $53.73 with drug costs around $447.16. The competition is tough in popular cities like Miami, Tampa, Orlando. 6) Which state has better overall school ratings Illinois or Florida. The cost of living in Jacksonville is lower than the national average but the living cost has increased after the pandemic. On the other hand, medical . There is no shortage of natural trails, state parks, and museums. I am pushing 60 years old and single so I need affordable, small town feel, local gatherings and by the water. Fort Worth, on the 65th spot, has an average rent of $1,341 per month with almost a million residents. Also, the city draws visitors as it holds a strong position in the entertainment industry. Its considered one of the best places to live in Florida on a budget. Arkansas. Port Charlotte is an amazing place to live with low taxes and a median housing price of $166,600. But you can definitely start from any of the cities listed above. Florida also did poorly in both polls, but it will almost certainly be an improvement for many over the Prairie State. 2. Population: 15,118 Cost of Living Index: 90 Average Home Price: $219,000 (17% below Florida average) Average Rent Price: $927 per month Crime Rate per 1,000 Residents: 18.8 (26% below Florida average) Unemployment Rate: 3.4% 10 Year Job Growth Outlook: +51% Location: See in Google Maps. Thanks. In 2022, five of the 20 most competitive US rental markets were in Florida, per RentCafe, with Miami-Dade county and Orlando at number one and three respectively. The ten states with the lowest property tax rates are: Hawaii, Alabama, Louisiana, Colorado, District of Columbia, Delaware, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Arkansas. The city has direct access to Interstate 95 and is only about two hours south of Savannah, Georgia. A 2019 Joblist study that compared wages to cost of living in the US ranked Florida last out of all 50 states in terms of affordability. All rents are less than $1,600 per month, on average. A: Every state has some good areas and some bad areas. * School ratings vary widely, depending upon the criteria the particular organization uses. It has earned a name as Monarch City and the Tree City of the USA. Michigan drivers pay nearly seven times more than South Dakota drivers. But Florida doesn't just have the weather, the beaches, and Disney World going for it. Plant City already has fame in the world for celebrating the Florida Strawberry Festival. Luckily, 28 states have property tax rates below 1.00%. Jacksonville is again lower than the Florida average also, which stands at $237,000. As of October, the cost of a one-bedroom apartment in the state had increased 36% since the start of the pandemic, per Apartment List, with only New Mexico and Idaho seeing a higher uptick. What is the best way to find a job in the area you suggest? The cost of living in Bartow is 12% lower than the state(Florida) average. Lady Lake is the third cheapest place to live in Florida that we would recommend. 7) Which state has a lower overall tax burden Illinois Versus Florida. Living cost in Edgewater is not that expensive. I am looking to move from Panama City beach Florida soon. Its median home value, however, remains in the middle of the pack compared to the rest of the country. How to Watch LSU at Florida in Men's College Basketball Today: Game Date: March 4, 2023 Game Time: 6 p.m. Your email address will not be published. But, what about the attractions in the city itself? Finally, we took a weighted average of each of the below category to create our final score and ranking: Please note that some links below are affiliate links, which means that we receive a small commission if you make a purchase through our links, but at no extra cost to you. With a population of nearly 87,000 and a median home price of $213,400, Palm Coast is speckled with colorful wildlife and magnificent trails. Ive seen too many people move to Florida for the warm weather, only to move out because they learned they couldnt handle up to 9 months of a hotter more humid summer. However being expensive or not, is relative. It is only 1 hour by car from Fort Myers and 1.5 hours from Tampa. While they can likely count on warm temperatures in the years ahead, not everyone will find themselves better off financially. This put education in the state above the national average. My husband and I are planning to move to Florida. But does better quality of life ratings = higher resident happiness? Jacksonville is one of the cheapest places to visit in Florida. While the cost of living in Florida is far from lowest, its considerably cheaper overall than Illinois. A large and robust economy. Florida Museum of Natural History is also a popular tourist attraction in Gainesville. This is truly an authentic small town as you wont find any big chain stores here. As per 247wallst.com, the median home value in Plant City is around $154,300, less than the national average. One bedroom studio rent can be found under $1400 per month. Furthermore, you can buy a house whose median value is around $155,300, less than the national median home value of $204,900. Housing is the main factor in the cost of living and median home prices are very favorable for individuals in Orlando. The effect of moving kids from their friends, relatives and environment to somewhere completely different can have consequences. Most retirees live on a fixed income and the data shows that money will currently go farther in Florida than Illinois. Edgewater also has one of the lowest crime rates on our list of the cheapest and safest places to live in Florida, making it an affordable, yet safe place for everyone. It is also less than 2 hours away from Orlando, giving you easy access to many major cities, but in an affordable and quaint suburb. Thanks. Auto insurance rates by state. Situated between Tampa and Miami on Florida's Gulf Coast, Fort Myers is a growing city. Those from New York, which CNBC's analysis named the second most expensive state in terms of cost of living, might have benefitted from the move. 2) Which state is a safer place to live overall, Illinois or Florida? It may very well be one of the most affordable places to live in Florida that is truly worth living in. If safety is your top priority during your search for cheap places to live in Florida, then consider Lake Alfred. The median income in Sunny Isles Beach comes in at $51,760 and the median home value is $363,400 for 2023. Average house is 350k, houses are renting at 2-2500 and apartments arent much cheaper than that. Florida is not Cheap Get Cautious about Tornadoes and Hurricanes: . Location-wise, Haines City is situated in central Florida, right between Tampa and Orlando, making it an ideal place to access some of the best large cities in Florida, but with a cheaper lifestyle. Illinois ranked a respectable 15th* of the 50 states on K-12 overall, according to a report by the education research center Education Week. Thank you for this list and all the helpful comments. Located on the Florida panhandle just 30 minutes from Pensacola, Milton is a tight-knit community that balances low cost of living with low crime and good job prospects. Based on our cost-of-living assessment, Hawaii is the most expensive state at 181.79 while Mississippi is the least expensive at 85.71. According to Neighborhood Scout, their crime rate is only 12 per 1,000 residents. Although housing is cheaper in Florida than it is in most other states in America, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research the overall cost of living in Florida is on the high side. The median home price in Dunedin is $157,000 which is 5.8% lower than the state average. I always want to experience blood-curdling thrills like cemeteries, lighthouses, closed schools, theaters, and many more. The cost of living index in Dade City is 89.4 based on a US average of 100. All of these facts make Tavares our top choice as the cheapest place to live in Florida that you would actually want to live in. Are these data still applying to current year? Overall Score 6.0 Quality of Life 6.5 Pensacola. Illinois taxes individual income at a rate of 4.95% and business income at 7%. 22: Texas. So, Dade City is waiting for many adventures! A comfortable retirement in Iowa will cost an estimated $1,024,201, less than in most states and below the national average of $1,134,687. Melbourne is considered 6% safer than USA cities, you have 1 in 35 chances of becoming a victim of property crime. ET TV: SEC Network (Local) Live stream the LSU at Florida men's college basketball game on . These cities have a low cost of living but you have to pay later. File a "Declaration of Domicile" with the clerk of circuit court in the Florida county where you live. Jacksonville. Bartow is located 50 miles southwest of Orlando and 40 miles east of Tampa. For homebuyers, prices grew nearly 30% in Florida between the second quarter of 2021 and 2022, the most of any state. You can spend your weekend shopping at Renningers Flea and Farmer Market. It is 13% safer than other US cities recording 26.91 crime rates (per 1,000 residents). Theres a variety of restaurants, waterparks, shopping choices, and nonexpensive entertainment like fishing, boating, hiking, swimming, and many more. From here, Miami its just 135 miles away. Moving from Utah have 3 dogs and will be needing work as I am setting out on a new adventure. The quality of education can vary from school to school even within the same district in the same state. Americans are moving to Florida for better weather and lower taxes. Hi Ashley, Cape Coral and Dunedin both are comparatively safe places than other Florida cities. With 400 miles of canals, the city is also known as Waterfront Wonderland. Hi there, Besides the popular theme parks, you can visit Kennedy Space Center and enjoy Boggy Creek Airboat Tour with your family. For more adventure enjoy camping in New Smyrna Beach RV Park and Campground which is just 4 miles away from Edgewater and one of the best campgrounds in Florida. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider This is definitely one of the reasons for being one of the cheapest places to live in Florida near the beach. Some beneficiaries may pay higher premiums for their Part B coverage, based on their income. The average cost to build an 1,800-square-foot home here is the lowest in the U.S. The unemployment rate in Jacksonville is very low. You can access many Atlantic ocean beaches which are just a short drive away from Edgewater. 12 Best Christmas Towns in Florida To Celebrate Holidays in 2023, 8 Best Breweries in Gainesville to Visit in 2023, 9 Magical Secret Spots and Hidden Gems in Miami, 10 Fastest Growing Cities in Florida in 2023, 7 Best Places To Live In Northern Florida, 13 Most Insane Abandoned Places In Florida You Have To See, 11 Best Beaches In North Florida In 2023: A Descriptive List, Living in Tampa vs Orlando: Which Florida City is Best in 2023, Top 10 Free Things to do in Miami You Shouldnt Miss in 2023. Especially on a fixed income. Here, I come to the end of the list of cheapest places to live in Florida, giving a complete insight into the cost, expenses, house price, crime rate, employment and healthcare. Where would a safe and also wheelchair accessible and friendly place to live be on a budget of 800-900? If you buy into the hotter the better, move to a desert where daytime temps are from 120-140 degrees daily and enjoy yourself. With a monthly expenditure of $2200-2800, you can expect a happy life with all the basic amenities. If youre looking for a safe place to live in Florida where median home prices for newer homes are lower, Fort Meade is worth consideration.