S T SalaryCompareTool

Cost of living in Gainesville, FL

Livability score 70 · cost-of-living index 97.2 (US = 100)

Gainesville, FL
Photo: Rbrko via Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

How Gainesville compares

Where Gainesville falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 97 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 97 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $307k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $307k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $166 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $166 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.92% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.92% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 380 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 380 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 15.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 15.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 52° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 52°

Map of Gainesville

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 97.2 metro-area #114 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 96.3 metro-area #76 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.53 metro-area #113 of 200
Median household income $56,638 metro-area #186 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $32,717 metro-area #193 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 34.3 years metro-area #19 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 40.9% metro-area #33 of 200
Foreign-born residents 10.2% metro-area #72 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 58.9% metro-area #181 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 4.90% metro-area #83 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +23.1% metro-area #3 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $306,605 metro-area #77 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 5.4× metro-area #131 of 200
1-yr home appreciation -1.3% metro-area #164 of 200
Price per square foot $166 metro-area #77 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 1,850 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,681 metro-area #112 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 1,765
Median days on market 31 metro-area #154 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.1% state #38 of 200
Combined sales tax 7.02% state #69 of 200
State income tax (top rate) None
Capital gains tax None state #1 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate 0.92% metro-area #111 of 200
Median property tax paid $2,091 metro-area #71 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 77.1 years metro-area #81 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,500 state #163 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 11.3% metro-area #140 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 130 metro-area #2 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $225 state #153 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices 4
Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #66 of 200
Commute by driving alone 71.8% metro-area #58 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 29.7% metro-area #79 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 15.4¢/kWh state #45 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $138 state #41 of 200
Gasoline $3.35/gal state #111 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $38 state #3 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $88 state #65 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $4,200 state #183 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $2,900 state #181 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 84.0 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #56 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $1,400 state #185 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 38 metro-area #25 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 3,600 metro-area #180 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 96% state #4 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 500 metro-area #4 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 73 metro-area #156 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200
Avg winter low 52°F metro-area #4 of 200
Annual precipitation 51.5" metro-area #171 of 200
Annual snowfall 0.0" metro-area #1 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 68% metro-area #34 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 10a
Frost window 01-15 → 01-15

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 380 state #75 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,950 state #67 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200
Parks 60
Hiking areas 15
Golf courses 15
Shooting ranges 4
Lakes 4

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200
Permit detail Moderate

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Gainesville

Major public and private employers in the Gainesville, FL area.

EmployerSectorJobs
University of Florida Education Careers →
UF Health/Shands Hospital Healthcare Careers →
Alachua County Public Schools Education Careers →
Publix Super Markets Retail Careers →
North Florida Regional Medical Center Healthcare Search →

Salaries by occupation in Gainesville

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $158,290
Pharmacists $130,490
Marketing Managers $123,430
Financial Managers $122,060
Physician Assistants $117,970
Lawyers $108,190
Civil Engineers $102,040
General & Operations Managers $100,650
Mechanical Engineers $98,900
Physical Therapists $96,720
Human Resources Managers $95,520
Construction Managers $92,810
Software Developers $81,940
Registered Nurses $81,430
Web Developers $78,570
Dental Hygienists $77,670
Accountants & Auditors $69,880
Data Scientists $59,550
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $58,260
Real Estate Sales Agents $51,810
Elementary School Teachers $51,540
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $51,120
Graphic Designers $48,570
Electricians $48,340
Carpenters $46,670
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $45,550
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $45,230
Medical Assistants $36,900

Find a job in Gainesville

Cities in the Gainesville area

Ad · affiliate links

Compare Gainesville with…

More FL metros →