Lakeland, FL vs Gainesville, GA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Gainesville, GA and Lakeland, FL are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Lakeland works out to about $74,700 in Gainesville, before taxes.
- Housing is 2.6% lower in Gainesville, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.2% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,701 a month in Gainesville and $1,814 in Lakeland, $1,356 a year less in Gainesville (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $386,000 in Gainesville and $296,000 in Lakeland.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.3%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Lakeland and Gainesville
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Lakeland, FL
- Gainesville, GA
All items Lakeland, FL: 97.1 Gainesville, GA: 96.8
Goods Lakeland, FL: 96.2 Gainesville, GA: 96.3
Housing (rents) Lakeland, FL: 95.9 Gainesville, GA: 93.5
Utilities Lakeland, FL: 86.9 Gainesville, GA: 89.6
Other services Lakeland, FL: 98.9 Gainesville, GA: 98.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lakeland, FL | Gainesville, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | 96.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 95.9 | 93.5 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 89.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.7 |
| Category | Lakeland | Gainesville | Gainesville vs Lakeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | 96.8 | −0.4% |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.3 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 95.9 | 93.5 | −2.6% |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 89.6 | +3.1% |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.7 | −0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,814 | $1,701 | −6.2% |
| Typical home value | $296,000 | $386,000 | +30.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Lakeland | $75,000 | $74,700 | −0.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Lakeland and Gainesville has narrowed since 2008: 4.5 points then, 0.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Lakeland, FL
- Gainesville, GA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lakeland, FL | Gainesville, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.9 | 92.4 |
| 2009 | 95.4 | 89.3 |
| 2010 | 95.6 | 93.0 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 93.2 |
| 2012 | 96.1 | 92.7 |
| 2013 | 95.2 | 92.9 |
| 2014 | 96.0 | 93.0 |
| 2015 | 96.8 | 92.2 |
| 2016 | 96.4 | 91.3 |
| 2017 | 95.9 | 91.9 |
| 2018 | 94.5 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 93.6 | 92.3 |
| 2020 | 93.3 | 94.6 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 94.0 |
| 2022 | 96.1 | 96.8 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 97.1 | 96.8 |
Goods
- Lakeland, FL
- Gainesville, GA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lakeland, FL | Gainesville, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 94.0 |
| 2009 | 95.7 | 91.1 |
| 2010 | 96.9 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 94.2 |
| 2012 | 97.4 | 90.8 |
| 2013 | 97.2 | 93.2 |
| 2014 | 97.7 | 91.5 |
| 2015 | 97.0 | 90.9 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 92.3 |
| 2017 | 97.4 | 91.6 |
| 2018 | 95.3 | 95.6 |
| 2019 | 95.3 | 95.4 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 95.7 | 95.8 |
| 2022 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2023 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Lakeland, FL
- Gainesville, GA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lakeland, FL | Gainesville, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.0 | 84.4 |
| 2009 | 88.0 | 80.5 |
| 2010 | 84.4 | 87.7 |
| 2011 | 87.8 | 88.6 |
| 2012 | 83.8 | 84.8 |
| 2013 | 82.5 | 81.0 |
| 2014 | 83.4 | 83.0 |
| 2015 | 85.9 | 79.7 |
| 2016 | 82.4 | 77.0 |
| 2017 | 83.0 | 83.4 |
| 2018 | 83.0 | 84.2 |
| 2019 | 85.7 | 77.7 |
| 2020 | 84.6 | 92.5 |
| 2021 | 89.6 | 78.2 |
| 2022 | 89.9 | 94.6 |
| 2023 | 96.0 | 91.8 |
| 2024 | 95.9 | 93.5 |
Utilities
- Lakeland, FL
- Gainesville, GA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lakeland, FL | Gainesville, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.4 | 82.7 |
| 2009 | 98.6 | 82.1 |
| 2010 | 96.2 | 84.4 |
| 2011 | 94.4 | 89.5 |
| 2012 | 92.0 | 93.5 |
| 2013 | 90.1 | 93.8 |
| 2014 | 93.7 | 95.3 |
| 2015 | 90.9 | 96.9 |
| 2016 | 86.0 | 95.4 |
| 2017 | 84.6 | 97.0 |
| 2018 | 87.0 | 90.0 |
| 2019 | 88.6 | 92.1 |
| 2020 | 85.2 | 91.9 |
| 2021 | 85.0 | 91.5 |
| 2022 | 90.0 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 91.2 | 88.0 |
| 2024 | 86.9 | 89.6 |
Other services
- Lakeland, FL
- Gainesville, GA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Lakeland, FL | Gainesville, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.2 | 95.2 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 92.0 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 93.5 |
| 2011 | 100.9 | 94.4 |
| 2012 | 100.6 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 99.7 | 97.5 |
| 2014 | 100.5 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 101.4 | 97.5 |
| 2016 | 102.2 | 96.1 |
| 2017 | 100.9 | 94.5 |
| 2018 | 98.8 | 97.5 |
| 2019 | 95.9 | 95.6 |
| 2020 | 96.0 | 95.2 |
| 2021 | 99.7 | 99.4 |
| 2022 | 99.9 | 99.5 |
| 2023 | 99.8 | 98.6 |
| 2024 | 98.9 | 98.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,701 in Gainesville vs $1,814 in Lakeland
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Lakeland, FL
- Gainesville, GA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Lakeland, FL | Gainesville, GA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $986 | $923 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,012 | $933 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,015 | $950 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,024 | $949 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,035 | $963 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,057 | $987 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,067 | $1,022 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,065 | $1,001 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,088 | $1,020 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,114 | $1,054 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,115 | $1,047 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,128 | $1,060 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,148 | $1,083 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,180 | $1,108 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,190 | $1,097 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,201 | $1,137 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,222 | $1,143 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,240 | $1,167 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,256 | $1,210 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,259 | $1,172 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,279 | $1,201 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,306 | $1,211 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,335 | $1,238 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,352 | $1,279 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,379 | $1,317 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,465 | $1,442 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,569 | $1,528 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,620 | $1,523 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,662 | $1,560 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,724 | $1,592 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,739 | $1,609 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,736 | $1,630 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,752 | $1,661 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,769 | $1,663 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,766 | $1,648 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,757 | $1,655 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,781 | $1,660 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,788 | $1,677 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,778 | $1,672 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,773 | $1,654 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,797 | $1,679 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,804 | $1,679 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,798 | $1,655 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,786 | $1,668 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,795 | $1,674 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,827 | $1,692 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,814 | $1,701 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $386,000 in Gainesville vs $296,000 in Lakeland
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Lakeland, FL
- Gainesville, GA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Lakeland, FL | Gainesville, GA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $134K | $176K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $136K | $179K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $140K | $183K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $143K | $188K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $146K | $192K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $149K | $194K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $153K | $198K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $157K | $201K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $160K | $205K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $163K | $208K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $167K | $212K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $171K | $215K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $175K | $218K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $179K | $221K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $183K | $226K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $188K | $228K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $192K | $233K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $193K | $236K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $196K | $239K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $200K | $242K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $204K | $246K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $207K | $248K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $212K | $255K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $220K | $268K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $230K | $282K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $242K | $298K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $255K | $311K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $269K | $327K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $291K | $351K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $315K | $371K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $324K | $375K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $320K | $372K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $315K | $370K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $315K | $375K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $317K | $382K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $318K | $387K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $320K | $391K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $320K | $397K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $317K | $399K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $314K | $398K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $312K | $399K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $307K | $395K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $302K | $391K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $301K | $391K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $300K | $390K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $298K | $388K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $296K | $386K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.