A+
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
9%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Winter Haven Florida National
Cost of living9698100
Goods & Services10198100
Groceries9899100
Health care9296100
Housing9196100
Transportation9599100
Utilities9097100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Winter Haven, FL

Knowing the cost of living in Winter Haven allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Winter Haven stands at 96, marking it 4% lower than the national average.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Winter Haven are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Winter Haven can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Winter Haven?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 7 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Winter Haven. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 29% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 71% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Winter Haven Affordable?

Wondering if Winter Haven is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Winter Haven, for example, the median home price is 12.1% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 0.3% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Winter Haven boasting a median household income of $48,560, which is 12.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Winter Haven?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Winter Haven, the groceries index is 2.2% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Winter Haven, the transportation index stands at 4.8% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Winter Haven, healthcare costs are 7.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Winter Haven cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Winter Haven is 2% lower than the Florida average
  • The cost of living in Winter Haven is 4% lower than the national average
  • Winter Haven housing is 9% lower than the national average
  • Florida general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Florida state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Winter Haven

See all the best places to live around Winter Haven

Compare Winter Haven, FL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$59,195$4,933$1,381$1,776
      Renters$35,194$2,933$821$1,056
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Winter Haven, FL, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Winter Haven, the median monthly income is $59,195 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,381 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $35,194, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $821 on monthly rental expenses.

      Florida Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Florida 6% 7.5%

      Florida Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Florida 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Winter Haven National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.53$24.269.4%
      Beauty Salon $55.13$45.5621.0%
      Toothpaste $3.84$3.703.8%
      Shampoo $1.48$1.2815.8%
      Movie $13.54$12.1311.6%
      Bowling $19.87$18.0010.4%

      Groceries

      Item Winter Haven National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.26$5.847.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.0%
      Milk $4.58$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $5.23$4.936.0%
      Pizza $13.13$12.098.6%
      Beer $11.07$10.416.3%

      Health Care

      Item Winter Haven National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $118.44$125.685.8%
      Doctor $137.00$135.780.9%
      Dentist $125.36$113.2910.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.89$10.652.2%
      Lipitor $446.86$468.604.6%

      Housing

      Item Winter Haven National avg. Difference
      Home Price $162,400.00$184,700.0012.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,463.53$2,346.695.0%
      Apartment Rent $946.00$949.000.3%

      Transportation

      Item Winter Haven National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.39$3.462.1%
      Tire Balancing $57.07$59.924.8%

      Utilities

      Item Winter Haven National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $190.71$193.991.7%
      Phone $194.67$192.251.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fussels Corner, FL4,7807920.5%
      Wahneta, FL3,9888218.1%
      Mulberry, FL4,1348217.8%
      Inwood, FL7,1968614.4%
      Crooked Lake Park, FL1,5918713.4%
      Winter Haven, FL42,933964.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Goose Creek, SC42,9441055.3%
      Fond du Lac, WI42,944918.5%
      Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC42,920n/a 
      St. Thomas, ON42,918n/a 
      DeKalb, IL42,961937.2%
      Winter Haven, FL42,933964.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.