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Gainesville, FL

Cost of living in Alachua County, FL

Part of the Gainesville Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,049/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 281,751 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,308 43%
Healthcare $480 16%
Federal tax $407 13%
Groceries $352 12%
Transport $250 8%
Energy $197 6%
Water $55 2%
State tax $0 0%

Rent in Alachua County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,176
per month
1 bedroom
$1,308
per month
2 bedroom
$1,583
per month
3 bedroom
$2,016
per month
4 bedroom
$2,099
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Alachua County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$59,659
per year
Individual earnings
$34,940
per year
Per capita
$37,981
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Alachua County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$266,800
Annual property tax
$2,623

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Alachua County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$176
per month · 16¢/kWh
Natural gas
$21
per month
Annual total
$2,364
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Alachua County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
7.8%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Alachua County

State and local tax rates for Florida.

No state income tax
Florida does not levy a personal income tax.
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
7.0%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Alachua County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
21.5 min
Drive alone
69.9%
Public transit
2.9%
Work from home
12.1%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Alachua County

What it costs to live in Alachua County each month.

Single person
$3,049
per month
  • Rent $1,308
  • Energy $197
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $352
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $407
  • State tax $0
Couple
$4,327
per month
  • Rent $1,583
  • Energy $236
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $583
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $646
  • State tax $0
Family
$6,918
per month
  • Rent $2,016
  • Energy $296
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $885
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $646
  • State tax $0

Frequently asked questions about Alachua County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Alachua County?

In Alachua County, FL, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,308 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,583 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,016 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Alachua County?

In Alachua County, FL, the average household income is $59,659 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $34,940 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Alachua County?

The estimated cost of living in Alachua County, FL is approximately $3,049 per month for a single person, $4,327 for a couple, $6,918 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Alachua County?

The combined sales tax rate in Alachua County, FL is 7.01%, which includes the Florida state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 1.01%.

Is Alachua County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Alachua County, FL would need approximately $3,049 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $59,659 per year ($4,972 per month). Alachua County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Alachua County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Alachua County, FL is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 7.8% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Alachua County?

The average home value in Alachua County, FL is $266,800, with average annual property taxes of $2,623, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Alachua County compare to other areas?

You can compare Alachua County, FL with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Alachua County is in the Gainesville, FL metro area.

Other counties in Florida

Browse the full list of counties in Florida, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Florida

Compare Alachua County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources