Florida vs Massachusetts: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Florida or Massachusetts?
- Overall, Massachusetts is 2.3% more expensive than Florida (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Florida works out to about $76,700 in Massachusetts, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.8% higher and other services 1.5% higher in Massachusetts, while housing is 4.9% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 68.8% higher in Massachusetts.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $71,629 in Massachusetts and $57,131 in Florida (25.4% higher in Massachusetts; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 95.1 in Pittsfield, MA to 108.3 in Boston, MA (Massachusetts) and from 85.4 in The Villages, FL to 114.2 in Miami, FL (Florida), US = 100.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Massachusetts was 7.5% more expensive than Florida.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Florida and Massachusetts
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Florida
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florida | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.4 | 105.8 |
| Goods | 98.1 | 98.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 122.1 | 128.1 |
| Utilities | 90.1 | 152.1 |
| Other services | 101.3 | 102.9 |
| Category | Florida | Massachusetts | Massachusetts vs Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.4 | 105.8 | +2.3% |
| Goods | 98.1 | 98.8 | +0.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 122.1 | 128.1 | +4.9% |
| Utilities | 90.1 | 152.1 | +68.8% |
| Other services | 101.3 | 102.9 | +1.5% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $57,131 | $71,629 | +25.4% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026 | $3.98 | $4.20 | +5.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Florida | $75,000 | $76,700 | +2.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices.
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Florida
- The Villages, FL 85.4
- Sebring, FL 92.5
- Homosassa Springs, FL 93.5
- Tallahassee, FL 93.9
- Ocala, FL 95.2
- Gainesville, FL 96.7
- Crestview, FL 97.0
- Lakeland, FL 97.1
- Panama City, FL 97.3
- Pensacola, FL 97.7
- Sebastian, FL 98.3
- Deltona, FL 99.4
- Jacksonville, FL 99.5
- Palm Bay, FL 100.0
- Port St. Lucie, FL 100.2
- Punta Gorda, FL 100.5
- Tampa, FL 100.9
- Orlando, FL 101.4
- Cape Coral, FL 102.3
- North Port, FL 102.4
- Naples, FL 103.2
- Miami, FL 114.2
Massachusetts
- Pittsfield, MA 95.1
- Springfield, MA 96.1
- Barnstable, MA 98.4
- Amherst-Northampton, MA 100.2
- Providence, RI 101.8
- Worcester, MA 102.5
- Boston, MA 108.3
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Florida and Massachusetts has narrowed since 2008: 4.4 points then, 2.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Florida
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florida | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.7 | 106.0 |
| 2009 | 100.5 | 105.5 |
| 2010 | 100.4 | 104.8 |
| 2011 | 100.8 | 104.7 |
| 2012 | 101.1 | 104.5 |
| 2013 | 100.7 | 103.3 |
| 2014 | 100.9 | 104.5 |
| 2015 | 101.3 | 105.1 |
| 2016 | 101.1 | 108.2 |
| 2017 | 100.9 | 107.4 |
| 2018 | 100.3 | 107.4 |
| 2019 | 99.6 | 107.2 |
| 2020 | 100.6 | 109.1 |
| 2021 | 101.4 | 106.7 |
| 2022 | 102.3 | 109.4 |
| 2023 | 103.6 | 107.7 |
| 2024 | 103.4 | 105.8 |
Goods
- Florida
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florida | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.9 | 98.4 |
| 2009 | 97.0 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 97.4 | 101.4 |
| 2012 | 98.0 | 101.2 |
| 2013 | 98.6 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 98.3 | 104.0 |
| 2015 | 97.4 | 102.2 |
| 2016 | 97.5 | 103.7 |
| 2017 | 98.4 | 103.8 |
| 2018 | 97.7 | 102.3 |
| 2019 | 96.1 | 103.6 |
| 2020 | 97.4 | 105.3 |
| 2021 | 98.4 | 105.6 |
| 2022 | 98.0 | 107.1 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 100.0 |
| 2024 | 98.1 | 98.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Florida
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florida | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 115.1 | 126.5 |
| 2009 | 111.0 | 130.3 |
| 2010 | 108.7 | 129.1 |
| 2011 | 108.2 | 128.6 |
| 2012 | 108.8 | 129.3 |
| 2013 | 107.4 | 129.1 |
| 2014 | 108.2 | 129.9 |
| 2015 | 109.3 | 130.0 |
| 2016 | 109.4 | 130.5 |
| 2017 | 110.5 | 130.6 |
| 2018 | 110.7 | 128.6 |
| 2019 | 112.0 | 130.1 |
| 2020 | 113.6 | 134.7 |
| 2021 | 112.9 | 129.0 |
| 2022 | 116.3 | 128.5 |
| 2023 | 123.2 | 130.1 |
| 2024 | 122.1 | 128.1 |
Utilities
- Florida
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florida | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 150.0 |
| 2009 | 101.2 | 142.6 |
| 2010 | 96.2 | 114.2 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 120.2 |
| 2012 | 93.5 | 127.4 |
| 2013 | 93.6 | 115.5 |
| 2014 | 95.3 | 110.0 |
| 2015 | 92.4 | 117.7 |
| 2016 | 89.9 | 133.2 |
| 2017 | 87.5 | 148.8 |
| 2018 | 91.1 | 151.7 |
| 2019 | 94.4 | 150.4 |
| 2020 | 89.8 | 162.3 |
| 2021 | 90.0 | 155.8 |
| 2022 | 94.8 | 151.3 |
| 2023 | 93.7 | 166.1 |
| 2024 | 90.1 | 152.1 |
Other services
- Florida
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florida | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 104.8 |
| 2009 | 99.0 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 102.0 |
| 2011 | 101.0 | 100.9 |
| 2012 | 100.9 | 100.3 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 98.8 |
| 2014 | 100.5 | 99.4 |
| 2015 | 101.8 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 101.3 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 100.1 | 103.3 |
| 2018 | 99.2 | 104.3 |
| 2019 | 98.3 | 102.9 |
| 2020 | 98.8 | 103.4 |
| 2021 | 100.4 | 100.9 |
| 2022 | 101.2 | 104.9 |
| 2023 | 101.5 | 105.0 |
| 2024 | 101.3 | 102.9 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $71,629 in Massachusetts, $57,131 in Florida
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Florida | Massachusetts | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $43,259 | $54,555 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $41,209 | $54,190 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $42,735 | $55,655 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $43,268 | $56,408 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $43,189 | $57,031 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $42,278 | $56,792 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $43,812 | $57,330 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $45,693 | $60,284 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $46,126 | $59,839 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $48,141 | $61,657 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $49,935 | $63,248 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $52,128 | $65,383 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $53,897 | $68,048 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $56,789 | $72,466 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $55,163 | $67,331 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $56,138 | $69,372 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $57,131 | $71,629 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Florida
- Cost of living in Massachusetts
- Reverse: moving from Massachusetts to Florida
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.