Cost of Living in Lakeland, FL
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
97.1
U.S. average = 100 · #126 of 387
Median wage
$46,140
all jobs · $3,271/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,230
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Lakeland, FL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Lakeland, FL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | −2.9% |
| Housing | 95.9 | −4.1% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 86.9 | −13.1% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Lakeland, FL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,226 | $49,040/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,230 | $49,200/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,497 | $59,880/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,023 | $80,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,511 | $100,440/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Lakeland, FL
Your take-home pay
$39,253
per year · effective tax rate 14.9%
$3,271Monthly
$1,636Twice a month
$1,510Every 2 weeks
$18.87Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,357
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,861
- Medicare (1.45%)$669
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,253
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Lakeland, FL
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive | $179,360 | $133,859 | $137,798 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $161,180 | $121,433 | $125,006 |
| Financial Manager | $151,440 | $114,775 | $118,153 |
| Pharmacist | $142,380 | $108,583 | $111,778 |
| Sales Manager | $126,890 | $97,995 | $100,879 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $125,720 | $97,196 | $100,056 |
| Lawyer | $122,870 | $95,248 | $98,051 |
| Software Developer | $122,200 | $94,790 | $97,579 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $110,910 | $86,855 | $89,411 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $107,300 | $84,316 | $86,797 |
| Managers, All Other | $106,440 | $83,711 | $86,174 |
| Construction Manager | $106,140 | $83,499 | $85,957 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $99,980 | $79,166 | $81,496 |
| General and Operations Manager | $96,220 | $76,521 | $78,773 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $95,160 | $75,775 | $78,005 |
| Project Management Specialist | $94,720 | $75,466 | $77,687 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $85,820 | $69,204 | $71,241 |
| Registered Nurse | $84,030 | $67,945 | $69,945 |
| Civil Engineer | $81,840 | $66,404 | $68,359 |
| Management Analyst | $79,990 | $65,103 | $67,019 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakeland, FL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area are 97.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 95.9%. It is the #126 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Lakeland, FL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,285 in Lakeland, FL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,140.
How much is rent in Lakeland, FL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Lakeland, FL are $1,226 for a studio, $1,230 for one bedroom, $1,497 for two bedrooms and $2,023 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Lakeland, FL
Management Occupations
- Chief Executive — $179,360
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $161,180
- Financial Manager — $151,440
- Sales Manager — $126,890
- Industrial Production Manager — $110,910
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $107,300
- Managers, All Other — $106,440
- Construction Manager — $106,140
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers — $99,980
- General and Operations Manager — $96,220
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $78,050
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — $61,660
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $94,720
- Management Analyst — $79,990
- Accountant and Auditor — $76,820
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $76,630
- Loan Officer — $75,400
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $73,880
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $72,260
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $67,720
- Human Resources Specialist — $62,970
- Training and Development Specialist — $58,900
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $122,200
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $95,160
- Computer Systems Analyst — $85,820
- Computer User Support Specialist — $51,080
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Civil Engineer — $81,840
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $58,320
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $56,580
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $53,800
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $41,290
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $122,870
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $49,520
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $58,000
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $50,420
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $50,360
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $34,780
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $32,610
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Pharmacist — $142,380
- Nurse Practitioner — $125,720
- Registered Nurse — $84,030
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $68,910
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,940
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $50,480
- Pharmacy Technician — $40,880
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $46,670
- Medical Assistant — $41,780
- Nursing Assistant — $36,000
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $33,570
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $66,700
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $49,280
- Firefighter — $48,560
- Security Guard — $34,550
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $43,220
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,250
- Cooks, Restaurant — $35,600
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,270
- Food Preparation Worker — $34,610
- Bartender — $33,920
- Dishwasher — $29,190
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $29,140
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $28,500
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,050
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $35,490
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $33,170
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $32,510
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $29,100
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $29,030
Sales and Related Occupations
- Insurance Sales Agent — $74,810
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $62,960
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $58,540
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,320
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $46,070
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $37,070
- Parts Salesperson — $36,370
- Retail Salesperson — $31,820
- Cashier — $29,900
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $63,580
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $57,700
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $50,690
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $50,110
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,860
- Teller — $45,240
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $43,430
- Office Clerks, General — $43,300
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $41,770
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $40,490
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks — $40,280
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $39,520
- Customer Service Representative — $38,750
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other — $37,940
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $35,430
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $74,500
- Electrician — $54,920
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $51,220
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $47,900
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $47,440
- Roofer — $46,730
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $46,320
- Carpenter — $45,970
- Construction Laborer — $39,470
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $75,440
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $60,840
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $59,780
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $56,680
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $45,900
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $45,850
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $44,420
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $62,710
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $48,520
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,090
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,670
- Food Batchmaker — $39,670
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $39,170
- Production Workers, All Other — $36,640
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,130
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,090
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $48,290
- Light Truck Driver — $46,010
- Bus Drivers, School — $45,900
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,800
- Stocker and Order Filler — $39,690
- Driver/Sales Worker — $36,070
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $32,680
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $30,850