Cost of Living in Gainesville, FL
Gainesville, FL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
96.7
U.S. average = 100 · #135 of 387
Median wage
$47,020
all jobs · $3,330/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,193
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Gainesville, FL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Gainesville, FL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.7 | −3.3% |
| Housing | 93.0 | −7.0% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 88.2 | −11.8% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Gainesville, FL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,101 | $44,040/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,193 | $47,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,427 | $57,080/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,788 | $71,520/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,890 | $75,600/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Gainesville, FL
Your take-home pay
$39,961
per year · effective tax rate 15.0%
$3,330Monthly
$1,665Twice a month
$1,537Every 2 weeks
$19.21Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,462
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,915
- Medicare (1.45%)$682
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,961
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Gainesville, FL
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gainesville, FL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Gainesville, FL metro area are 96.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 93.0%. It is the #135 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Gainesville, FL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,040 in Gainesville, FL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,020.
How much is rent in Gainesville, FL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Gainesville, FL are $1,101 for a studio, $1,193 for one bedroom, $1,427 for two bedrooms and $1,788 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Gainesville, FL
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $146,090
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $126,440
- General and Operations Manager — $93,220
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — $60,250
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $80,630
- Management Analyst — $78,850
- Accountant and Auditor — $75,820
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $73,920
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $70,920
- Human Resources Specialist — $57,520
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $122,950
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $73,230
- Computer User Support Specialist — $47,130
Community and Social Service Occupations
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $132,160
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $67,060
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $58,730
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $56,430
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $35,910
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $35,150
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $129,260
- Registered Nurse — $81,870
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $78,140
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,970
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $56,240
- Pharmacy Technician — $46,530
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $46,340
- Medical Assistant — $39,100
- Nursing Assistant — $36,990
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $33,320
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $63,050
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $50,020
- Firefighter — $49,380
- Security Guard — $33,950
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $40,040
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,760
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,400
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,050
- Bartender — $35,050
- Dishwasher — $29,490
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,970
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,170
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $35,500
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $33,680
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $60,330
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $60,020
- Insurance Sales Agent — $48,340
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,060
- Retail Salesperson — $31,830
- Cashier — $29,710
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $61,910
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $55,790
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $47,870
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $45,960
- Office Clerks, General — $44,950
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $40,440
- Customer Service Representative — $38,550
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $35,350
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other — $31,750
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $74,310
- Electrician — $55,680
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $51,600
- Construction Laborer — $41,670
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $74,510
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $55,670
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $47,460
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $46,560
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $36,930
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,980
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $48,930
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,980
- Light Truck Driver — $38,790
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,920
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $27,810