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Cost of living in Lakeland, FL

Livability score 69 · cost-of-living index 97.7 (US = 100)

Lakeland, FL
Photo: Connor J. Williams via Commons · CC BY 3.0

How Lakeland compares

Where Lakeland 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): 98 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 98 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $299k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $299k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $162 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $162 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: 0.73% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.73% 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 Lakeland

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) 97.7 metro-area #120 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 96.3 metro-area #76 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.56 metro-area #119 of 200
Median household income $60,901 metro-area #169 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $35,090 metro-area #170 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 39.6 years metro-area #130 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 22.6% metro-area #186 of 200
Foreign-born residents 11.5% metro-area #64 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 70.0% metro-area #47 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 4.63% metro-area #63 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +12.9% metro-area #17 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $298,816 metro-area #74 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.9× metro-area #111 of 200
1-yr home appreciation -3.2% metro-area #192 of 200
Price per square foot $162 metro-area #73 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 1,850 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,849 metro-area #142 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 5,225
Median days on market 44 metro-area #187 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 0.73% metro-area #68 of 200
Median property tax paid $1,579 metro-area #41 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 76.1 years metro-area #118 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,500 state #163 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 14.7% metro-area #176 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 46 metro-area #191 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 5
Avg commute to work 30 min metro-area #180 of 200
Commute by driving alone 77.4% metro-area #135 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 44.6% metro-area #183 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) 96.5 — Relatively High metro-area #160 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) 39 metro-area #31 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 138 metro-area #196 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 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 20 metro-area #169 of 200
Parks 22
Hiking areas 9
Golf courses 15
Shooting ranges 7
Lakes 9

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.

Salaries by occupation in Lakeland

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $156,820
Pharmacists $135,530
Marketing Managers $133,420
Financial Managers $122,640
Human Resources Managers $111,060
Software Developers $110,600
Physician Assistants $110,290
Lawyers $102,100
Data Scientists $97,660
Physical Therapists $96,400
General & Operations Managers $93,960
Construction Managers $93,110
Civil Engineers $92,940
Web Developers $81,180
Mechanical Engineers $78,170
Registered Nurses $78,050
Dental Hygienists $77,990
Accountants & Auditors $72,080
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $61,340
Elementary School Teachers $56,610
Graphic Designers $52,670
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $51,280
Real Estate Sales Agents $50,400
Electricians $48,540
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $46,900
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,520
Carpenters $45,400
Medical Assistants $36,040

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