Yahoo Finance How Much Apartment Can You Afford in Florida vs. California?
Both Florida and California have strong appeal for prospective residents. Florida has more than 200 public beaches, a balmy climate that stays pretty mild all year round and no state income tax (a major money-saving plus). Then there’s California, with its cultural diversity, mixture of mountains and beaches, and mild Mediterranean climate.
If you’re thinking about renting a place in either of these inviting states, you’re likely wondering what kind of apartment you can get for your money. What are the most affordable cities that are also pleasant to live in? How much does a one-bedroom apartment cost in, say, Hollywood, Florida, versus West Hollywood, California?
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GOBankingRates analyzed cities in Florida and California to find the average rent for overall apartments, the average rent for one-bedroom apartments and the average rent for two-bedroom apartments — all sourced from ApartmentList.com.
Here’s a look at how much apartment you can afford in Florida versus California, in cities with a livability index of 75 and up (as sourced from AreaVibes). And what is the population of each city? Let’s find out. Cities are listed in order from lowest to highest livability.
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Hollywood, Florida
Population: 152,764
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,526
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,300
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,747
Deerfield Beach, Florida
Population: 86,455
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,729
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,406
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,840
Tamarac, Florida
Population: 71,578
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,782
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,557
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,824
West Hollywood, California
Population: 35,358
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,115
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,961
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,547
San Diego
Population: 1,383,987
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,309
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,968
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,466
Chula Vista, California
Population: 276,103
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,367
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,739
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,275
Rocklin, California
Population: 71,676
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,433
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,895
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,419
Santa Monica, California
Population: 92,168
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,472
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,340
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,805
San Francisco
Population: 851,036
Livability index: 75
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,673
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,698
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,198
Dania Beach, Florida
Population: 31,700
Livability index: 76
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,766
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,490
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,779
Santa Rosa, California
Population: 178,221
Livability index: 76
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,895
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,457
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,962
Burbank, California
Population: 106,389
Livability index: 76
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,108
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,803
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,428
Hayward, California
Population: 160,602
Livability index: 76
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,503
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,251
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,532
Irvine, California
Population: 304,527
Livability index: 76
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,959
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,511
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,079
Newport Beach, California
Population: 85,159
Livability index: 76
Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,210
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,677
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,324
Lakeland, Florida
Population: 114,404
Livability index: 77
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,274
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,084
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,272
La Mesa, California
Population: 60,888
Livability index: 77
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,091
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,853
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,221
Roseville, California
Population: 148,879
Livability index: 77
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,095
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,709
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,132
Carlsbad, California
Population: 114,745
Livability index: 77
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,274
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,894
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,244
Walnut Creek, California
Population: 69,809
Livability index: 77
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,725
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,435
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,987
San Bruno, California
Population: 43,218
Livability index: 77
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,867
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,447
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,968
Emeryville, California
Population: 12,840
Livability index: 77
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,937
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,846
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,436
Pinellas Park, Florida
Population: 53,352
Livability index: 78
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,451
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,017
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,475
Kissimmee, Florida
Population: 78,478
Livability index: 78
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,522
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,179
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,456
Panama City Beach, Florida
Population: 18,281
Livability index: 78
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,662
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,413
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,689
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Population: 68,814
Livability index: 78
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,901
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,498
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,761
Berkeley, California
Population: 121,385
Livability index: 78
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,941
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,790
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,160
Coral Springs, Florida
Population: 133,801
Livability index: 78
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,984
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,597
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,909
Camarillo, California
Population: 70,622
Livability index: 78
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,591
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,108
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,537
Aliso Viejo, California
Population: 51,896
Livability index: 78
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,925
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,557
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,019
North Miami, Florida
Population: 59,854
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,496
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,328
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,703
Lauderhill, Florida
Population: 73,987
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,629
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,426
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,726
Miramar, Florida
Population: 135,158
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,754
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,439
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,615
Maitland, Florida
Population: 19,266
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,803
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,710
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,862
Doral, Florida
Population: 74,891
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,417
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,052
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,333
Vacaville, California
Population: 101,631
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,428
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,884
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,313
Boca Raton, Florida
Population: 97,980
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,444
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,152
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,386
San Jose, California
Population: 1,001,176
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,792
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,429
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,882
Santa Clara, California
Population: 128,058
Livability index: 79
Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,014
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,740
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,140
Daytona Beach, Florida
Population: 73,329
Livability index: 80
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,342
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,129
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,408
Sarasota, Florida
Population: 55,508
Livability index: 80
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,513
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,457
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,538
Tampa, Florida
Population: 388,768
Livability index: 80
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,581
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,339
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,671
Temple Terrace, Florida
Population: 26,818
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,475
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,340
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,525
Clearwater, Florida
Population: 116,984
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,488
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,201
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,577
Orlando, Florida
Population: 307,738
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,582
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,348
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,675
Miami
Population: 443,665
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,923
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,607
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,129
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Population: 182,673
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,951
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,696
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,122
Davie, Florida
Population: 105,821
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,019
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,930
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,941
Sunrise, Florida
Population: 96,510
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,049
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,596
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,031
Plantation, Florida
Population: 93,130
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,140
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,842
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,182
San Mateo, California
Population: 104,165
Livability index: 81
Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,178
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,815
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,526
Bradenton, Florida
Population: 55,795
Livability index: 82
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,472
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,349
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,486
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Population: 45,772
Livability index: 82
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,490
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,371
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,599
Alafaya, Florida
Population: 91,531
Livability index: 82
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,763
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,536
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,663
Pembroke Pines, Florida
Population: 170,472
Livability index: 82
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,899
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,477
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,883
Sunnyvale, California
Population: 154,573
Livability index: 82
Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,048
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,758
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,236
Pensacola, Florida
Population: 54,059
Livability index: 83
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,311
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,096
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,366
Coconut Creek, Florida
Population: 57,574
Livability index: 83
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,032
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,832
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,982
Fremont, California
Population: 228,795
Livability index: 83
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,716
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,257
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,735
Gainesville, Florida
Population: 142,414
Livability index: 84
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,153
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $983
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,218
Jacksonville, Florida
Population: 950,203
Livability index: 84
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,345
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,131
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,331
North Miami Beach, Florida
Population: 43,269
Livability index: 84
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,761
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,515
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,012
Coral Gables, Florida
Population: 49,696
Livability index: 84
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,123
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,873
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,571
Pleasanton, California
Population: 78,691
Livability index: 84
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,733
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,146
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,767
Milpitas, California
Population: 79,092
Livability index: 84
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,952
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,661
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,949
Tallahassee, Florida
Population: 198,259
Livability index: 85
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,285
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,090
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,298
Fort Myers, Florida
Population: 88,699
Livability index: 85
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,346
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,175
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,374
Melbourne, Florida
Population: 84,982
Livability index: 85
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,443
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,261
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,473
Brandon, Florida
Population: 114,923
Livability index: 85
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,658
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,389
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,636
West Palm Beach, Florida
Population: 117,588
Livability index: 85
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,724
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,496
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,783
Daly City, California
Population: 103,648
Livability index: 85
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,847
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,535
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,121
Redwood City, California
Population: 83,077
Livability index: 85
Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,035
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,693
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,411
Dublin, California
Population: 71,068
Livability index: 85
Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,130
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,681
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,104
St. Petersburg, Florida
Population: 259,343
Livability index: 86
Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,430
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,229
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,549
Livermore, California
Population: 87,154
Livability index: 86
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,573
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,937
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,519
Contra Costa Centre, California
Population: 6,884
Livability index: 86
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,797
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,693
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,261
Mountain View, California
Population: 82,132
Livability index: 86
Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,944
Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,699
Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,282
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in California and Florida to find the average price for apartments by bedroom size; overall, one-bedroom and two-bedroom. First, GOBankingRates found the total population, total households, median household income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the average rent for overall apartments, average rent for one-bedroom apartments, and average rent for two-bedroom apartments all sourced from ApartmentList.com, the livability index as sourced from AreaVibes, the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, and the average expenditure costs for all residents as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all residents. Using the cost of living indexes and the average expenditure costs, the average expenditure costs for each city can be calculated. The average rent by bedroom sizes can be added to the expenditure cost to find the average total cost of living for different bedroom sizes. The cities were sorted by total population to show costs of living in different cities at different sizes to find the apartments you can afford in Florida and California. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 28, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Apartment Can You Afford in Florida vs. California?
