Gen Z Renters — What Rent Will Cost You in These 6 Florida Cities

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Retirees aren’t the only ones heading to the Sunshine State.

Long known as a top destination for the 65 and over set, Florida has become popular with Gen Z, as well. Many members of the demographic born between 1997 and 2012 have yet to leave home and strike out on their own, of course. But a chunk of those who have — and who have switched states — have landed in Florida.

The Sunshine State ranked third on Zillow’s list of top states for Gen Z out-of-state movers. Florida trailed only Texas and California in the list.

If you’re a member of Gen Z eyeing a move to Florida, it’s worth doing some research on how much rent you would wind up paying, as well as the overall cost of living — and livability in general. To lend you a hand, GOBankingRates has compiled data for six popular Florida destinations.

Read on to get an idea of how much rent you’ll pay these days in each city, along with population, livability scores and the total cost of living each year.

And if you’re curious about the cost of renting in other states, make sure you check out GOBankingRates’ analysis of the cost to rent in 46 cities.

Hialeah

• Total population: 222,996
• Livability score: 73
• Total annual cost of living: $47,492
• Average monthly rent overall: $1,676
• Average 1-bedroom monthly rent: $1,307
• Average 2-bedroom monthly rent: $1,822

Hialeah may not have the same name recognition as Miami or Orlando, but it is Florida’s sixth-largest city. Hialeah is located just northwest of Miami. The Hispanic percentage of its population — more than 90% — is one of the highest in the U.S.

Jacksonville

• Total population: 950,203
• Livability score: 84
• Total annual cost of living: $40,372
• Average monthly rent overall: $1,340
• Average 1-bedroom monthly rent: $1,127
• Average 2-bedroom monthly rent: $1,326

Florida’s most populous city, Jacksonville, is located on the state’s northeast coast, about halfway between Orlando and Savannah, Georgia. Jacksonville has more than 500 neighborhoods, the nation’s largest system of city parks, the University of North Florida and more.

Miami

• Total population: 443,665
• Livability score: 81
• Total annual cost of living: $50,227
• Average monthly rent overall: $1,885
• Average 1-bedroom monthly rent: $1,575
• Average 2-bedroom monthly rent: $2,086

The unofficial capital of South Florida is located on the state’s southeastern coast. The city itself has over 440,000 residents, but the Miami metro area is home to more than 6 million. It boasts world-famous nightlife, major league sports and numerous cultural opportunities.

Orlando

• Total population: 307,738
• Livability score: 81
• Total annual cost of living: $43,838
• Average monthly rent overall: $1,555
• Average 1-bedroom monthly rent: $1,325
• Average 2-bedroom monthly rent: $1,647

A magnet for conventions and tourists, sunny Orlando has one of the highest concentrations of theme parks anywhere in the world. You’ll find Orlando in central Florida, about 3.5 hours north of Miami by car.

St. Petersburg

• Total population: 259,343
• Livability score: 86
• Total annual cost of living: $42,029
• Average monthly rent overall: $1,444
• Average 1-bedroom monthly rent: $1,241
• Average 2-bedroom monthly rent: $1,563

You’ll find St. Petersburg just southwest of Tampa on the Piniellas Peninsula, along Florida’s west coast. St. Petersburg is home to the University of South Florida, the Poynter Institute and major league baseball‘s Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa

• Total population: 388,768
• Livability score: 80
• Total annual cost of living: $44,102
• Average monthly rent overall: $1,584
• Average 1-bedroom monthly rent: $1,341
• Average 2-bedroom monthly rent: $1,674

Another Gulf Coast city, Tampa trails only Jacksonville and Miami in population among Florida cities. Its many attractions include the historic Ybor City District, the Tampa Riverwalk and numerous theaters and museums.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the average rental costs for major U.S. cities and the cost of living in those cities. GOBankingRates first sourced the 100 most populated cities from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Additional information gathered for each city included total population, total households, population ages 65 and over, and household median income. Cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces. The average overall rental cost, 1-bedroom rental cost, and 2-bedroom rental cost were sourced from ApartmentList. The average cost of a condo or co-op was sourced from the Zillow Home Value Index. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. GOBankingRates used the cost-of-living indexes and the national average expenditure costs for all residents, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Using the average condo/co-op value, assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the overall rental cost and expenditure costs, the total cost of living for each city was calculated. All data is up to date as of Sept. 13, 2024.

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