Massachusetts vs Florida: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Massachusetts or Florida?
- Overall, Florida is 2.2% less expensive than Massachusetts (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Massachusetts works out to about $73,300 in Florida, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.8% lower and other services 1.5% lower in Florida, while housing is 4.7% lower.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 40.8% lower in Florida.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $57,131 in Florida and $71,629 in Massachusetts (20.2% lower in Florida; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 85.4 in The Villages, FL to 114.2 in Miami, FL (Florida) and from 95.1 in Pittsfield, MA to 108.3 in Boston, MA (Massachusetts), US = 100.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Florida was 7.0% less expensive than Massachusetts.
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 Massachusetts and Florida
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Massachusetts
- Florida
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | 103.4 |
| Goods | 98.8 | 98.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 128.1 | 122.1 |
| Utilities | 152.1 | 90.1 |
| Other services | 102.9 | 101.3 |
| Category | Massachusetts | Florida | Florida vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | 103.4 | −2.2% |
| Goods | 98.8 | 98.1 | −0.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 128.1 | 122.1 | −4.7% |
| Utilities | 152.1 | 90.1 | −40.8% |
| Other services | 102.9 | 101.3 | −1.5% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $71,629 | $57,131 | −20.2% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026 | $4.20 | $3.98 | −5.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Massachusetts | $75,000 | $73,300 | −2.2% |
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
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
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
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Massachusetts and Florida has narrowed since 2008: 4.4 points then, 2.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Massachusetts
- Florida
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.0 | 101.7 |
| 2009 | 105.5 | 100.5 |
| 2010 | 104.8 | 100.4 |
| 2011 | 104.7 | 100.8 |
| 2012 | 104.5 | 101.1 |
| 2013 | 103.3 | 100.7 |
| 2014 | 104.5 | 100.9 |
| 2015 | 105.1 | 101.3 |
| 2016 | 108.2 | 101.1 |
| 2017 | 107.4 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 107.4 | 100.3 |
| 2019 | 107.2 | 99.6 |
| 2020 | 109.1 | 100.6 |
| 2021 | 106.7 | 101.4 |
| 2022 | 109.4 | 102.3 |
| 2023 | 107.7 | 103.6 |
| 2024 | 105.8 | 103.4 |
Goods
- Massachusetts
- Florida
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.4 | 98.9 |
| 2009 | 97.7 | 97.0 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 101.4 | 97.4 |
| 2012 | 101.2 | 98.0 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 104.0 | 98.3 |
| 2015 | 102.2 | 97.4 |
| 2016 | 103.7 | 97.5 |
| 2017 | 103.8 | 98.4 |
| 2018 | 102.3 | 97.7 |
| 2019 | 103.6 | 96.1 |
| 2020 | 105.3 | 97.4 |
| 2021 | 105.6 | 98.4 |
| 2022 | 107.1 | 98.0 |
| 2023 | 100.0 | 98.2 |
| 2024 | 98.8 | 98.1 |
Housing (rents)
- Massachusetts
- Florida
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 126.5 | 115.1 |
| 2009 | 130.3 | 111.0 |
| 2010 | 129.1 | 108.7 |
| 2011 | 128.6 | 108.2 |
| 2012 | 129.3 | 108.8 |
| 2013 | 129.1 | 107.4 |
| 2014 | 129.9 | 108.2 |
| 2015 | 130.0 | 109.3 |
| 2016 | 130.5 | 109.4 |
| 2017 | 130.6 | 110.5 |
| 2018 | 128.6 | 110.7 |
| 2019 | 130.1 | 112.0 |
| 2020 | 134.7 | 113.6 |
| 2021 | 129.0 | 112.9 |
| 2022 | 128.5 | 116.3 |
| 2023 | 130.1 | 123.2 |
| 2024 | 128.1 | 122.1 |
Utilities
- Massachusetts
- Florida
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 150.0 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 142.6 | 101.2 |
| 2010 | 114.2 | 96.2 |
| 2011 | 120.2 | 95.3 |
| 2012 | 127.4 | 93.5 |
| 2013 | 115.5 | 93.6 |
| 2014 | 110.0 | 95.3 |
| 2015 | 117.7 | 92.4 |
| 2016 | 133.2 | 89.9 |
| 2017 | 148.8 | 87.5 |
| 2018 | 151.7 | 91.1 |
| 2019 | 150.4 | 94.4 |
| 2020 | 162.3 | 89.8 |
| 2021 | 155.8 | 90.0 |
| 2022 | 151.3 | 94.8 |
| 2023 | 166.1 | 93.7 |
| 2024 | 152.1 | 90.1 |
Other services
- Massachusetts
- Florida
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.8 | 99.0 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 99.0 |
| 2010 | 102.0 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 100.9 | 101.0 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 100.9 |
| 2013 | 98.8 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 99.4 | 100.5 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 101.8 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 101.3 |
| 2017 | 103.3 | 100.1 |
| 2018 | 104.3 | 99.2 |
| 2019 | 102.9 | 98.3 |
| 2020 | 103.4 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 100.9 | 100.4 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 101.2 |
| 2023 | 105.0 | 101.5 |
| 2024 | 102.9 | 101.3 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $57,131 in Florida, $71,629 in Massachusetts
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Massachusetts
- Florida
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Florida | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $54,555 | $43,259 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $54,190 | $41,209 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $55,655 | $42,735 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $56,408 | $43,268 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $57,031 | $43,189 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $56,792 | $42,278 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $57,330 | $43,812 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $60,284 | $45,693 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $59,839 | $46,126 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $61,657 | $48,141 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $63,248 | $49,935 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $65,383 | $52,128 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $68,048 | $53,897 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $72,466 | $56,789 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $67,331 | $55,163 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $69,372 | $56,138 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $71,629 | $57,131 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Massachusetts
- Cost of living in Florida
- Reverse: moving from Florida to Massachusetts
- 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.