Cost of living in the Gainesville Metro Area
3 counties across FL. Population: 344,521.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Gainesville Metro Area
Average rent across the Gainesville metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Gainesville Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Gainesville Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Gainesville Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Gainesville Metro Area
The Gainesville metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Alachua County FL$3,049/moPop281,751 Rent$1,308/mo Income$59,659/yrAlachua County FL 281,751 $1,308/mo $59,659/yr $3,049/mo
- Levy County FL$2,655/moPop44,276 Rent$855/mo Income$53,805/yrLevy County FL 44,276 $855/mo $53,805/yr $2,655/mo
- Gilchrist County FL$3,136/moPop18,494 Rent$1,308/mo Income$61,070/yrGilchrist County FL 18,494 $1,308/mo $61,070/yr $3,136/mo
Compare counties in the Gainesville Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Gainesville Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Gainesville Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Gainesville metro area is approximately $3,003 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Gainesville Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Gainesville metro area is $1,250 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Gainesville Metro Area?
Levy County, FL is the most affordable county in the Gainesville metro area at approximately $2,655 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Gainesville Metro Area?
Gilchrist County, FL is the most expensive county in the Gainesville metro area at approximately $3,136 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Gainesville Metro Area?
The Gainesville metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Alachua County, Levy County, Gilchrist County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.