15 Florida Cities To Live In If You’re Living On Minimum Wage

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Florida is one of the more desirable places to live in. It’s got lots of sunny days, gorgeous beaches and sports zero state income tax. But even with that tax break that many other states don’t provide, Florida can still be a very expensive place to live. It’s still cheaper than the national average, but only by 2%, according to RentCafe. 

Financial life may be especially tough on those at the lower income end of the spectrum, particularly those living on minimum wage. As of Sept. 30, 2024, the minimum wage in Florida is $13 per hour. That’s much more than the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour. But $13 an hour may not go very far when the cost of an average home in your state is $393,698, according to Zillow. 

In an exclusive new study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across Florida to find the best places to live if you make minimum wage.

15. Hosford

• Population: 709  
• Household median income: $67,344 
• Total cost of living annually: $36,010 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $11,050* 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $12,778 

14. Paxton

• Population: 583   
• Household median income: $53,295 
• Total cost of living annually: $35,999 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $11,039 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $12,767 

13. Interlachen

• Population: 1,648    
• Household median income: $50,776 
• Total cost of living annually: $35,703 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $10,743 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $12,471 

12. Bascom

• Population: 123   
• Household median income: $68,000 
• Total cost of living annually: $35,690 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $10,730 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $12,458 

11. Graceville

• Population: 2,717 
• Household median income: $36,625 
• Total cost of living annually: $35,376 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $10,416 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $12,144 

10. Greenwood

• Population: 713 
• Household median income: $56,250 
• Total cost of living annually: $35,035 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $10,075 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $11,803 

9. Blountstown

• Population: 3,297 
• Household median income: $38,051 
• Total cost of living annually: $34,614 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $9,654 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $11,382 

8. Bonifay

• Population: 2,760  
• Household median income: $32,750 
• Total cost of living annually: $34,529 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $9,569 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $11,297 

7. Sneads

• Population: 1,744 
• Household median income: $41,827 
• Total cost of living annually: $34,221 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $9,261 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $10,989 

6. Chattahoochee

• Population: 2,975 
• Household median income: $51,473 
• Total cost of living annually: $33,784  
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $8,824 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $10,552 

5. Cross City

• Population: 2,485 
• Household median income: $44,500 
• Total cost of living annually: $33,464 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $8,504 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $10,232 

4. Malone

• Population: 2,162 
• Household median income: $45,855 
• Total cost of living annually: $33,169 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $8,209 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $9,937 

3. Cottondale

• Population: 965 
• Household median income: $49,375 
• Total cost of living annually: $33,042 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $8,082 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $9,810 

2. Campbellton

• Population: 240 
• Household median income: $42,917  
• Total cost of living annually: $32,322 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $7,362 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $9,090 

1. Gretna

• Population: 1,208 
• Household median income: $27,419 
• Total cost of living annually: $32,046 
• Annual cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income: $7,086 
• Annual cost of living after adjusted minimum wage income: $8,814 

*Note that the cost of living after unadjusted minimum wage income does not take holidays and vacations into account, while the adjusted numbers do.

Photo is for representational purposes only and may not reflect the locations listed here.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across Florida to find the best places to live if you make minimum wage. The statewide minimum wage was sourced from the Department of Labor. Using a hourly to salary income calculator from calculator.net; assuming 8 holidays per year, 10 vacation days per year, 40 hours per week, and 5 days a week, the annual income can be calculated using the hourly minimum wage. Using the U.S. Census American Community Survey to find all the cities within the state, a number of factors can be found including total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and household median income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. Using this data the percentage of the population ages 65 and over can be calculated. The cost of living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous cost of living indexes. Using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location can be calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location and included as supplemental information. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024. Using the average single-family home value, assuming a 10% downpayment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average total monthly and annual cost of living can be calculated. Using the calculated annual income from a minimum wage income and the average total annual cost of living, the annual cost of living after a minimum wage income can be calculated. Using the median household income and the average total annual cost of living, the annual cost of living after a median household income can be calculated. The cities were sorted to show the lowest(cheapest) cost of living after an annual minimum wage income, representing the best places to live for a minimum wage income. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 28, 2024.

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