The 10 Cheapest Places to Live in Florida in 2025
Florida is the most popular migration destination in the United States. More than 300,000 people moved there in 2023 alone. But Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are getting expensive fast.
The good news: Florida has 67 counties, and most of them barely make the news. Some have median rents under $700 a month and home prices well below $150,000. Here are the 10 most affordable counties in Florida, ranked by median rent using 2020-2021 census data.
How We Ranked These Counties
We pulled median rent and median home price data from Movemap's county database, which covers all 3,143 US counties using US Census Bureau figures. Data is from 2020-2021. Prices have risen since then, but the relative ranking of affordable vs expensive counties holds.
The 10 Cheapest Counties in Florida
1. Calhoun County — Median rent $558/month, median home price around $93,000. Calhoun sits in the Florida Panhandle, about 60 miles from Tallahassee. It's genuinely rural. If you work remotely and want the cheapest entry point into Florida living, this is it. Unemployment runs around 7%, so local job options are thin.
2. Liberty County — Median rent $572/month, home prices around $109,000. The least populous county in Florida at around 8,000 people. Dense forest, no beach, no tourists. The kind of place where you pay $115,000 for a house with a half-acre lot. If privacy and low cost matter more than amenities, Liberty delivers.
3. Jefferson County — Median rent $599/month, home prices around $134,000. Located just east of Tallahassee, Jefferson gives you affordable living with the capital city close enough for shopping, hospitals, and services. The median age is 45. It attracts retirees who want to stretch their Social Security further.
4. Hamilton County — Median rent $618/month, home prices around $107,000. On the Georgia border, Hamilton has the Suwannee River running through it. Strong outdoor recreation, low population, and one of the lowest price points in the state. Unemployment tends to run higher here, so remote work is the move.
5. Gilchrist County — Median rent $629/month, home prices around $147,000. This one has a cult following among people who want rural Florida with access to natural springs. The Ichetucknee and Santa Fe rivers are nearby. About 45 minutes from Gainesville.
6. Dixie County — Median rent $639/month, home prices around $113,000. On the Gulf Coast north of Tampa, Dixie is the definition of Old Florida. Fishing, hunting, springs. No chain restaurants. Home prices are low but the local economy is limited. Best suited for retirees or full-time remote workers.
7. Lafayette County — Median rent $645/month, home prices around $127,000. The smallest county economy in Florida. Fewer than 9,000 residents. Suwannee River access. For anyone wanting the absolute minimum cost of entry into rural Florida, Lafayette is in the conversation.
8. Madison County — Median rent $648/month, home prices around $112,000. Between Tallahassee and Jacksonville on I-10. The interstate access makes this more practical than the counties above it. Small town, affordability, and reasonable commute range to larger cities.
9. Gadsden County — Median rent $658/month, home prices around $138,000. The only majority-Black county in Florida. Adjacent to Tallahassee, which makes it a genuinely practical option. You get the capital city's services without the capital city's housing costs. Gadsden has been developing steadily over the past decade.
10. Union County — Median rent $671/month, home prices around $120,000. Near Gainesville and Lake City. One of the smallest counties in Florida by population, but the location is better than most on this list. Gainesville is 30 minutes away, which means a university hospital, a proper grocery store, and the University of Florida ecosystem.
Explore Florida's Counties on the Interactive Map
These rankings only scratch the surface. Every county above has trade-offs between crime, unemployment, weather, and access to services that matter differently depending on your situation.
The Movemap tool at movemap.io/explore/us lets you filter all 3,143 US counties by rent, home price, crime rates, winter temperature, proximity to airports, and 40+ other factors. Sign up for full access to all premium filters and find your perfect county.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest county to live in Florida? Based on 2020-2021 census data, Calhoun County has the lowest median rent in Florida at around $558 per month, with home prices around $93,000. It's a rural Panhandle county about 60 miles from Tallahassee.
Is Florida affordable to live in? Florida has no state income tax, which helps. But coastal areas like Miami, Tampa, and the Palm Beaches have become expensive. The most affordable parts of Florida are in the Panhandle, North Florida, and the Big Bend region, where rents and home prices are well below the national average.
What should I consider beyond rent when moving to Florida? Rent and home price are a starting point, but crime rates, flood zone risk, access to healthcare, hurricane exposure, and employment options all matter significantly. All of these factors are filterable at movemap.io/explore/us.
Florida's cheapest counties won't be right for everyone. But if you're a remote worker, retiree, or first-time buyer who needs to stretch a dollar, they're worth a serious look.