Looking For The Cheapest Place to Live in Florida?

Florida is the third-most populated state in the country and one of the fastest-growing. The state adds over 303,000 new residents each year — an average of 831 people per day. By 2025, there will be over 23 million people living in the Sunshine State. So what is the cheapest place to live in Florida?

While many newcomers flock to downtown Miami or Disney-adjacent neighborhoods near Orlando, there are dozens of more affordable areas that offer a similar lifestyle. You can still enjoy the pristine beaches and unique attractions while on a budget.

Learn more about the cheapest place to live in Florida and why to move there.

1. Cape Coral

Cape Coral is next to Ft. Myers on the Gulf Coast. You can easily hop on Alligator Alley across the state to visit Miami or drive two hours north to Tampa. For a weekend getaway, you can even board the Key West ferry out of the Ft. Myers port! 

Cape Coral isn’t just an ideal place because of its central location. It also offers affordable living. The median household income is around $50,000 with the median home price at $230,000. One of the main benefits of Cape Coral is its extensive canal system. If you want a home on the water and a dock for your boat, you can opt for a home on a canal instead of a house on the beach. These canals make living on the water much more affordable for the average homeowner, making Cape Coral a great place to live for fishing hobbyists.  

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2. Dunedin

Located just north of Clearwater on the Gulf Coast is Dunedin, a small town with easy access to Tampa and St. Petersburg. The median income for Dunedin is $46,000 annually while average home prices however around $254,000. 

Dunedin has an older population, but this is starting to change. This niche town has become a hub for crafts and craft breweries. There are nearly 10 craft breweries in the area — most of which are downtown. If you want to explore a little farther afield, Tampa has branded itself the “Brewery Bay,” with over 85 open breweries in the area. 

Dunedin is also kid-friendly and is known for its annual Scottish Highlands Games.

3. Kissimmee

If you want to live next to Disney and Universal, look into the neighborhoods surrounding Kissimmee. The median income is $35,450 with a median home price of $220,000. In this town, you can easily drive to the theme parks or catch Magic basketball games without having to live in the center of Orlando.

Kissimmee sits west of Orlando, which makes Tampa easy to get to. If you want to spend a day at the beach, you can head to the Gulf Coast for a day trip or overnight getaway.  

Kissimmee is home to the second-highest Puerto Rican population in the mainland United States. More than 12 percent of the population is Puerto Rican. New York City has the highest Puerto Rican population total, but these residents only make up six percent of the population. 

4. Gainesville 

If you want to live in a college town and SEC powerhouse, then consider a move to Gainesville. Home to the University of Florida, this city has a median income of $32,100 and a median home price of $183,000. 

The need for college housing keeps home prices low, as UF is the seventh-largest university in the country with more than 50,000 gators enrolled each year. (The University of Central Florida in Orlando is the second biggest, with more than 68,000 students.)

Gainesville is located in the center of the state and north of Orlando. You can easily access most major metropolitan areas and both the east and west coasts from this town.  

5. Homosassa Springs

Homosassa Springs is located north of Tampa Bay. Its median income is $28,000 with a median home price of $152,500. This is a smaller town in a more rural part of the state, but it is still easy to commute to downtown Tampa for work and culture. 

Homosassa, and the neighboring town of Crystal River, offer some of the cheapest place to live in Florida. They are also known for their plentiful manatees. Visitors travel from across the state to snorkel alongside these gentle giants, which gives Homosassa a booming tourist economy. Between the nearby springs and beaches, there is plenty of nature to enjoy. This town is just down the road from Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, home to Florida’s legendary mermaid show.  

6.Titusville

Over on the Atlantic side of the state is Titusville, which has a median income of $40,000 and a median home price of $160,800. Some of the top employers in Titusville include NASA and SpaceX because of its proximity to Cape Canaveral. Titusville is considered a more affordable option compared to Cocoa Beach, which has higher property values and more tourists each year. 

Titusville is also near Port Canaveral, making it a popular living spot for people who enjoy taking cruises. 

7. Plant City 

If you want to explore central Florida to get away from the crowded cities, look into Plant City. This town is located outside of Tampa on the way to Orlando. The median income is around $46,000 and the median home price is $193,000. This is a younger town than other parts of Florida, ideal for families who want to live in a safe area. 

Planty City is also known as the host of the Florida Strawberry Festival – an 11-day festival that runs in March. This festival typically draws big names in entertainment and attracts tourists from across the state. 

8. Melbourne

Melbourne is another city on the Atlantic coast with easy access to Cape Canaveral. Melbourne is an hour from Orlando and three hours from Miami. While there is a prominent tourist population (like most Florida cities) this town falls out of the way and has a thriving local population. The median salary in Melbourne is $40,000 with the median home price of $195,000. 

While the residents of Melbourne tend to be older (with a median age of 45), the city has experienced significant growth over the past decade, bringing in a new batch of younger residents. A good Realtor can help you find a younger area.  

9. Dade City

Dade City might be the cheapest place to live in Florida. The median income is $29,000 with a median home price of $122,600. Dade City is another commuter town for Tampa, ideal for people who work in the city but want to live in a more spacious area. Residents can spend the weekend in Orlando or exploring the Ocala National Forest. There are plenty of nature trails or fresh springs in the area to entertain kids and adults.

10. Mount Dora

If you enjoy spending your weekend in quaint antique shops or driving past flowering orange groves, then Mount Dora might be the best town for you. Mount Dora has a median income of $48,000 with a median home price of $234,000. 

Mount Dora is surrounded by lakes, so you can spend the weekend boating or snorkeling in the nearby fresh springs. It falls north of Orlando, for easy access to the theme parks and airport. The median age of Mount Dora residents is 51, but there is enough charm to make anyone want to live here. 

Moving to Florida

If any of these descriptions have you thinking about making the leap and moving to Florida, you’ll want to get a Realtor to help — but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Before you look at homes in Florida, you need to know whether you can actually afford to own one. Mortgage payments are generally higher than rent in most states. And even when the prices are close, there are other costs associated with owning your home instead of renting. 

Your property taxes will be added to your monthly mortgage payment. And if you put down less than 20% for a down payment, your lender will probably require you to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI) as well. 

You’ll also have to pay some costs that you might not have had to pay while renting: utilities, cable, garbage pickup, and any necessary repairs. 

Make sure you can comfortably afford not just your mortgage but also any additional expenses before buying your first home. 

If you’ve run the numbers and decided that yes, you can afford homeownership, your next step is to meet with a mortgage lender. You can discuss the different types of mortgages and decide which would be best for you. You’ll also want to be pre-approved for a mortgage before you begin house-hunting. 

To get pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll have to share your financial and employment information with the lender. They’ll require documentation such as tax forms, pay stubs, and more. Once they review and verify your information, they’ll determine whether to approve you for a mortgage. If they do, they’ll let you know your mortgage options and terms. 

The lender will also issue a pre-approval letter. You can show this to sellers when you’re looking at homes, to let them know that you’re able to secure financing. 

Be Prepared to Negotiate

It’s more than likely that the seller will come back to you with a counteroffer. That’s just part of the negotiations. It’s up to you whether you can comfortably accept their counter, respond with your own counteroffer, or walk away. 

Keep your finances in mind and don’t let yourself get carried away in the excitement of buying your first home. No matter how much you might think a house is perfect for you, if you can’t comfortably afford it, it’s time to think twice. 

Remember buyers: you need to know what a home will require in order for it to be up to your expectations of build quality. Houses may need a few things fixed either prior to purchasing a home or immediately after. It’s important to be aware of these issues, as it may cause a headache further down the road after you’ve purchased the house.

Often, if the seller is motivated enough to sell the house, they might work with you and include fixes and light renovations as a stipulation in the contract for the sale of the house. Making sure you have inspectors and independent contractors to inspect the house for any major issues can help save you a headache in the long run.

You also need to be aware of the market surrounding the house. If you look around at the neighborhoods close to the home you’re considering, you may find other locations that may be a better price, closer to an important location, or simply newer than the one that you’re considering. Ensuring that you’re aware of the area and not focused on one house can help make sure that you’re making the best choice possible when putting in an offer, and not necessarily choosing the first one on the list.

Ensure you don’t bid either too high or too low on the house. Bidding too high will probably get you the house quicker, but you may end up paying over market value for the home and will probably have to recoup that cost before you can be in a suitable position to generate equity into the home.

Offer too little and the buyer may outright refuse and will greatly decrease your chances of landing the home that you want to purchase. When in doubt, consult a professional Realtor who knows the market.

You should understand how Realtor commissions work.

Real estate agent commission is typically split 50/50 between the agents who represent the buyer and seller. So, out of a gross 6% commission, your agent would only typically get 3% gross.

Out of that 3%, the agent has to split with their office. This generally ranges from a 50/50 to as high as a 90/10 split. So, on average the actual agent may only get 1.5% of that 6% commission.

Remember, everything is negotiable in real estate. Don’t discount using a Realtor because you think you must pay 6% to 10% in commissions. Agents may negotiate lower rates depending on the type of transaction, the services required, and frequency of business.

For example, if you are a real estate investor selling and buying 10 homes a month, an agent might be willing to work a 50% off deal in exchange for the volume. If they are receiving a referral from a trusted source they may offer a modest discount, while still giving a full-service experience. If you don’t need the agent to host open houses, and they can secure a buyer directly, without having to split with another agent, then they may offer a discount relative to their savings.

Home sellers may also work with their agents on bonuses and incentives. These may be paid by the seller, or out of the listing agent’s commission. For example, offering a $10,000 bonus for a full price offer which closes within 30 days, or contributing 3% of the purchase price toward buyer’s closing costs.

Find a Realtor to Help You Buy a Home

If you want to leave the freezing Northeast winters or find a coastal bungalow far away from a landlocked state, the right Realtor can assist with the move. With UpNest, which is owned by parent company Realtor.com, you can compare Florida real estate agents and find the top performers in your area. They can help you see the most competitive homes and find the cheapest place to live in Florida. Check out our system to meet your future Realtor.

UpNest is a no-cost service for home sellers and buyers to find the best real estate agents locally. The UpNest platform allows you to compare multiple agents in your area so you can compare reviews, commission rates, previous sales, and more.

Our network agents have been carefully vetted and often offer competitive, lower than average commission rates to UpNest customers. There is no obligation to sign up with one of our network Realtors, but when you can potentially save thousands on commission – why wouldn’t you? If you’re ready to get started, just enter your zipcode below!

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Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in Florida?

Gaiesville is one of the safest and cheapest places to live (and retire) in Florida. It is a large city and located in Alachua County. Gainesville is an ideal destination when you’re searching for that affordable big town feel.

What’s bad about living in Florida?

Although many praise the weather in Florida, there are extreme weather events to be cognizant of. Hurricanes and extreme heat and humidity are common. There are more tourists and part-time residents than other states. You’ll be paying higher insurance costs than other parts of the country.