A+
1%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
13%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Tallahassee Florida National
Cost of living10198100
Goods & Services9798100
Groceries9699100
Health care10696100
Housing11396100
Transportation9799100
Utilities8597100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Tallahassee, FL

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Tallahassee is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Tallahassee is 101, which is 1% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

The cost of living in Tallahassee aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Tallahassee residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.

Is Tallahassee Affordable?

Is Tallahassee affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Tallahassee, the median home price is 15.2% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 7.7% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Tallahassee boasting a median household income of $46,461, 16% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Tallahassee?

Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Tallahassee, is 13% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Tallahassee, healthcare costs are 5.9% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Tallahassee starts at 6% and the income tax rates start at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The Tallahassee cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Tallahassee is 3% higher than the Florida average
  • The cost of living in Tallahassee is 1% higher than the national average
  • Tallahassee housing is 13% higher than the national average
  • Florida general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Florida state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Tallahassee

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Compare Tallahassee, FL Cost of Living

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      Price difference in compared to
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      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$81,959$6,830$1,912$2,459
      Renters$31,981$2,665$746$960
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Tallahassee, FL, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Tallahassee homeowners, is $81,959. This would allow for a maximum of $1,912 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $31,981 which would result in a maximum of $746 to be spent on rental costs.

      Florida Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Florida 6% 7.5%

      Florida Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Florida 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Tallahassee National avg. Difference
      Haircut $23.64$24.262.5%
      Beauty Salon $35.60$45.5621.9%
      Toothpaste $3.74$3.701.1%
      Shampoo $1.42$1.2811.1%
      Movie $12.02$12.131.0%
      Bowling $16.50$18.008.3%

      Groceries

      Item Tallahassee National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.87$5.840.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.0%
      Milk $4.56$4.672.5%
      Potatoes $5.27$4.936.8%
      Pizza $12.97$12.097.3%
      Beer $11.26$10.418.2%

      Health Care

      Item Tallahassee National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $116.93$125.687.0%
      Doctor $122.60$135.789.7%
      Dentist $111.70$113.291.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.73$10.650.8%
      Lipitor $367.50$468.6021.6%

      Housing

      Item Tallahassee National avg. Difference
      Home Price $212,800.00$184,700.0015.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,152.45$2,346.698.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,022.00$949.007.7%

      Transportation

      Item Tallahassee National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.37$3.462.6%
      Tire Balancing $64.50$59.927.6%

      Utilities

      Item Tallahassee National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $189.14$193.992.5%
      Phone $193.94$192.250.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Woodville, FL4,0778812.2%
      Havana, FL2,1939010.4%
      Tallahassee, FL192,8851010.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Paradise, NV193,1501065.9%
      Overland Park, KS193,41211110.9%
      Grand Prairie, TX193,8351043.6%
      Tempe, AZ191,60711211.8%
      McKinney, TX191,19712928.6%
      Tallahassee, FL192,8851010.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.