Cost of Living in Wildwood, FL
Wildwood-The Villages, FL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Wildwood, FL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Wildwood, FL?
With a price level of 85.4 (U.S. average = 100), Wildwood, FL is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 48% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 11% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Wildwood, FL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.4 | −14.6% |
| Housing | 51.7 | −48.3% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 89.0 | −11.0% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Wildwood, FL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,076 | $43,040/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,139 | $45,560/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,328 | $53,120/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,655 | $66,200/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,937 | $77,480/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Wildwood, FL
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Wildwood, FL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,200 | $29,660 |
| $60,000 | $51,300 | $43,400 |
| $80,000 | $68,300 | $56,879 |
| $100,000 | $85,400 | $68,909 |
| $150,000 | $128,100 | $98,822 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Florida 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Wildwood, FL's median wage of $45,830 takes home about $3,250 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,139, which is 35% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,111 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Wildwood, FL
- Federal income tax$3,320
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,841
- Medicare (1.45%)$665
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,004
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay and living costs in Florida cities
Half of Florida’s 9,929,860 workers earn less than $47,880 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,290–$75,410 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Tallahassee, FL stretches a paycheck furthest, while Miami, FL is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $48,640 | 114.2 | $1,942 | 56% | $1,497 | $36,146 |
| Tampa, FL | $48,940 | 100.9 | $1,696 | 49% | $1,763 | $41,137 |
| Orlando, FL | $46,630 | 101.4 | $1,731 | 52% | $1,573 | $39,093 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $48,830 | 99.5 | $1,374 | 40% | $2,077 | $41,630 |
| North Port, FL | $47,440 | 102.4 | $1,686 | 50% | $1,672 | $39,347 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $46,780 | 102.3 | $1,638 | 49% | $1,676 | $38,855 |
| Lakeland, FL | $46,140 | 97.1 | $1,230 | 38% | $2,041 | $40,409 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $49,030 | 100.0 | $1,478 | 43% | $1,987 | $41,574 |
| Deltona, FL | $44,940 | 99.4 | $1,393 | 44% | $1,798 | $38,533 |
| Pensacola, FL | $46,240 | 97.7 | $1,257 | 38% | $2,021 | $40,253 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $46,520 | 93.9 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,104 | $42,120 |
| Naples, FL | $47,800 | 103.2 | $1,797 | 53% | $1,585 | $39,329 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,490 | 100.2 | $1,467 | 45% | $1,828 | $39,445 |
| Gainesville, FL | $47,020 | 96.7 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,137 | $41,310 |
| Crestview, FL | $47,510 | 97.0 | $1,492 | 44% | $1,871 | $41,589 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Wildwood, FL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildwood, FL | 85.4 | $1,139 | $45,830 | 41,300 |
| Longview, WA | 97.5 | $1,199 | $57,420 | 41,070 |
| Michigan City, IN | 91.7 | $953 | $45,540 | 40,840 |
| Monroe, MI | 93.5 | $1,011 | $46,240 | 40,740 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 88.5 | $948 | $40,570 | 40,320 |
| Kankakee, IL | 96.4 | $1,011 | $45,830 | 42,340 |
| Casper, WY | 93.8 | $852 | $48,880 | 40,020 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Wildwood, FL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Wildwood-The Villages, FL metro area are 85.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 51.7%. It is the #378 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Wildwood, FL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $51,254 in Wildwood, FL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,830.
Can you afford Wildwood, FL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $45,830 median wage takes home about $3,250 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,139 would take 35% of that.
How much is rent in Wildwood, FL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Wildwood, FL are $1,076 for a studio, $1,139 for one bedroom, $1,328 for two bedrooms and $1,655 for three bedrooms, including utilities.