Florida living costs climb as housing drives pressure

Florida’s cost of living is rising faster than the rest of the South, with housing driving much of the increase, according to a new Florida TaxWatch report. Florida ranked as the fourth most expensive Southern state in 2025, with an all-items index of 101.4. Average annual price growth accelerated to 5.8% in the 2020s, up from 1.3% in the 2010s. Average asking rent rose from $1,445 in 2020 to $2,208 in 2025, moving Florida from 16th to sixth nationally. Home insurance premiums averaged $2,794 through the third quarter of 2025, up 63% since 2020. Grocery staples, utilities and transportation costs also climbed, while child care reached $42.55 an hour, adding pressure on working families statewide.