10 Most Affordable Places to Live in Florida - AD Mortgage (2024)

FAQs

What part of Florida has the most affordable housing? ›

Cape Coral

Cape Coral has cheaper housing costs, utility bills, and healthcare costs than the national average. With an average home price of just over $4,30,000, this city on the Gulf Coast is a great option for those looking for affordable living in Florida.

Key takeaways. As long as you're willing to step outside the major cities and resort areas, Florida is still a very affordable place to buy a home. The U.S. median home price in 2022 is $428,700, and the Floridian cities we've shared here have median prices ranging from $184,000 to $275,100.

In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list this year is Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville has been steadily rising in Niche's Lowest Cost of Living ranking over the past few years, placing number six in 2021, number three in 2022 and finally, number one in 2023.

If you're searching for the most affordable places to live in florida 2022, Jacksonville may be your best choice. Their cost of living is reportedly 7% lower than the US average, with the cheapest rent in florida 2022 as well as home purchase price.

The family must be income eligible. Income eligibility is defined in terms of area median income, adjusted for family size. Extremely low income describes a family at or below 30% of area median income. Very low income describes a family at or below 50% of area median income.

Cape Coral

Known as the “Waterfront Wonderland,” this charming town is not only one of Florida's most affordable places but it is also one of the safest. Located in the southwestern part of the state near Fort Meyers, Cape Coral has an intricate system of canals which allow its residents to always be near the water.

The only debate worth having is which side of Florida has the best beaches. The Atlantic coast has plenty to offer in the way of water sports. They get the better waves and, thus, some greater action. Florida's Gulf Coast, however, is responsible for those visions of smooth, sandy beaches and crystal, clear water.

Minneola. Minneola, Florida, is not very vulnerable to hurricanes, with just 72 storms recorded since 1930. The most severe storm to strike was Hurricane Dora in 1964, while the most recent storm to hit was Tropical Storm Debby in 2012.

Using 2021 data, the Bureau of Economic Analysis found that the average total personal consumption cost in Florida is $50,689 per year. Here's how that breaks down. That translates to about $4,224 per person, per month.

What is the most affordable beach town in Florida? ›

The other reasons that people leave the state after moving here are varied: “A nearly 14,000-member Facebook group for people moving out of Florida has cited severe weather, low wages, crowded beaches, changing politics, and steep housing prices as reasons people left.”

Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. It also has the lowest average housing costs in the nation at 33.7% below the national average.

The Villages has the lowest county violent crime and property crime rate in Florida. What is the safest area to live in Florida? According to our research, the three safest cities in Florida are The Villages, Palm Coast, and Riverview.

In 2021, there were only six violent crimes in Satellite Beach, easily making it the safest place to live in Florida. Property crime rates in Satellite Beach are also 76% lower than the statewide average. Besides security, residents enjoy the town's sandy beaches and beautiful ocean views.

Generally, households must earn no more than 50% of the median income for their area to be eligible for Section 8 housing. For example, in Miami-Dade County, a household of four must earn no more than $44,100 per year to qualify for Section 8. Other eligibility factors include citizenship status and criminal history.

Serving seniors with low incomes, age 62+

We offer the security of high-quality, affordable senior living at or below market rates in our Rental Retirement Communities, with 12 great communities throughout north and central Florida.

Low-income seniors in Florida fall within the federal poverty level guidelines in the United States, which are those with incomes of no more than $13,590 per year. The poverty guidelines change each year and are based on three times the cost of a minimum food diet.

Where is the most affordable place in Florida to retire? ›

​​Why Is Cape Coral So Cheap? Cape Coral tends to have lower real estate prices than other regions in Florida. There are several reasons, including a lack of high-paying jobs in the region, vulnerability to hurricanes, and a general lack of economic opportunity in the area.

The CreditDonkey survey ranked Coral Springs in first place, Jacksonville in 2nd, and Tallahassee 3rd. The WalletHub study agreed with HouseFresh, ranking Cape Coral as number 1, Port St. Lucie as number 2, and Pembroke Pines as number 3.

Surprisingly enough — or maybe not surprising at all to some people — Northwest Florida, situated on the Panhandle, is the most hurricane-prone area in Florida. That's partly due to the Gulf of Mexico, which is known for its warm shallow waters, and partly due to its location in the U.S.

Southerly exposure is said to be best in Florida so that your house sees sunlight at all times of year, but not too much sun that would constantly be heating up your home.

It all comes down to preference. No, really. While the Gulf tends to have more lush sands, richer areas for beachcombing and clearer waters, the Atlantic has tons of activity, with hard-packed sands built for jogging and active waves for surfers.

Palatka is the safest city in Florida from hurricanes. It is a small town just inland from St. Augustine and about 60 miles south of Jacksonville, located on the St. Johns River.

1) Miami, FL: Each year, the city of Miami runs a 16% chance that it will be hit by a large hurricane. With the Atlantic Ocean located directly to its east and a maximum elevation of only 42 feet above sea-level, the geographic location of the city of Miami opens it up to severe weather damage.

Florida's energy prices are on the high side. Residents pay an average monthly electricity bill of $126.44, based on information from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That's 13% higher the national average of $111.67.

Yes, you can afford the average cost of living in Florida. If you receive a salary in excess of $50,000 per year, you will have enough to cover your expenses. The biggest companies in Florida all have high-paying jobs.

What is a good monthly income in Florida? ›

Pensacola

The most affordable beach town in Florida is Pensacola, although technically speaking, it's a city, not a town. City living can be affordable, even with waterside living. Pensacola currently has a median home value of $235,000 in 2022. The median housing cost (for rent and mortgages) is $932 per month.

St. George Island is one of the most secluded beaches in Florida, nestled on a 22 mile barrier island off the “Forgotten Coast” in the northwest corner of the state. The uncrowded beaches are perfect for swimming or just relaxing on the sugary sand.

Travel and Leisure magazine calls New Smyrna Beach “Florida's most underrated seaside city.” It's hard to disagree.

Many folks choose to retire in Florida for tax reasons alone. There are no state taxes on social security, pension funds, IRAs, 401(k)s, or other retirement incomes, which makes the state specifically attractive to folks over the age of 65.

From July 2021-July 2022, nearly 444,500 people moved to Florida, which compared to the previous year was a gain of 185,000, the largest year-over-year impact of residents moving. Florida also ranked #1 in domestic migration, #2 in international migration, and #1 with the most people moving in per day at 1,218.

Based on migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are moving to Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. The most moved-to cities are based on percentage increases in population since 2010.

That's why Stacker dug through the most recent data to determine the best county to live in every state. According to the website, Florida's best county is St. Johns County! Located in northeastern Florida and part of the Jacksonville metro area, this county has been around since the state's annexation into the U.S.

No state income tax in Florida, cheaper real estate and the weather are the top reasons broker Melissa Cantway said people are still moving here. "A property that you would buy here for $500,000 might cost $4 million in New York City," Cantway said.

What city has the lowest cost of living? ›

In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list this year is Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville has been steadily rising in Niche's Lowest Cost of Living ranking over the past few years, placing number six in 2021, number three in 2022 and finally, number one in 2023.

Key points. Inflation seems to be slowing, and some things could start to get cheaper in 2023. The cost of real estate, rental, cars, and gas could fall, at least a little. Don't get too excited about potential price drops, as there's still a lot of uncertainty about the economy.

Possibly the cheapest English-speaking country to live in is South Africa. Not only can you get by without having to go to language school, but most South African cities also have a high standard of living, similar to Western cities, which will make the transition much easier.

Topping the 2023-24 list: Green Bay, Wisconsin. The magazine called Green Bay "The perfect mix of big-city amenities complemented with a Midwestern, small-town feel."

One of the reasons Jacksonville gets a lower overall is thanks to housing costs, which are surprisingly affordable. The city comes in at an excellent score of 78/100 nationally. It's also lower by far than the rest of Florida, which gets a 102.6/100.

Overall, the Florida housing market is likely to remain strong in 2023, with continued demand for homes and steady price growth. However, the market may begin to stabilize as the growth rate slows down, which may lead to more balanced conditions between buyers and sellers.

Where are the most homeless in Florida? ›

Pinellas County has one of the highest concentrations of any Florida county, at nearly 0.3% with nearly 3,000 homeless people and a population in general of almost one million.

Florida Has the Most Vacant Homes in the U.S.

A new study released by LendingTree found that over 16 million homes in the U.S. are vacant, and Florida has the most vacant homes in the country with nearly 1.7 million vacant housing units.

Jacksonville has a low cost of living for a big city

The average monthly rent in Jacksonville is $1,530, and the average size is 969 square feet. In Miami, that goes up to $2,356 for 888 square feet, according to RentCafe.

The crime rates in Jacksonville are significantly higher than in Tampa. Total crime in Jacksonville was 3,569 per 100,000 in 2020 compared to 1,885 per 100,000 in Tampa. Violent crime was 698 per 100,000 in Jacksonville and 520 per 100,000 in Tampa.

The lowest rental rates are usually found between October and April, particularly right after the December holiday season.

The bottom line is Florida is a far less expensive state to live in than California because it has less expensive homes, lower sales tax on things you buy, and lower income taxes on money you earn.