Rent vs. Buy in Florida, County by County
For buyers deciding whether to keep renting: the modeled monthly cost of owning the typical home in every Florida county Zillow’s Observed Rent Index covers, against typical rent, with the gap. Each county links to its own page — the break-even, the price-to-rent ratio, and what it takes to make the move.
Every covered county: own vs. rent
| County | Typical rent | 1-yr change | Own-vs-rent gap /mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | $3,489/mo | +2.8% | $2,140 |
| Miami-Dade County | $2,860/mo | +0.7% | $282 |
| Palm Beach County | $2,648/mo | +2.9% | $236 |
| Collier County | $2,620/mo | +1.7% | $671 |
| Broward County | $2,498/mo | +1.3% | $120 |
| St. Lucie County | $2,377/mo | +1.6% | $-25 |
| Martin County | $2,272/mo | +4.4% | $512 |
| Nassau County | $2,193/mo | +3.1% | $611 |
| Sarasota County | $2,173/mo | -1.2% | $293 |
| Indian River County | $2,156/mo | +2.6% | $94 |
| St. Johns County | $2,078/mo | +0.6% | $864 |
| Manatee County | $2,076/mo | -1.6% | $434 |
| Lake County | $2,062/mo | +1.2% | $139 |
| Osceola County | $2,026/mo | +0.2% | $194 |
| Pasco County | $2,025/mo | -0.0% | $-15 |
| Pinellas County | $2,023/mo | -0.0% | $252 |
| Hillsborough County | $2,016/mo | -1.0% | $319 |
| Hendry County | $1,989/mo | – | $-252 |
| Santa Rosa County | $1,981/mo | +2.6% | $190 |
| Okaloosa County | $1,976/mo | +2.4% | $238 |
| Walton County | $1,955/mo | +0.2% | $1,735 |
| Orange County | $1,950/mo | +0.5% | $474 |
| Brevard County | $1,914/mo | +1.0% | $230 |
| Flagler County | $1,912/mo | +1.5% | $249 |
| Seminole County | $1,893/mo | +1.7% | $528 |
| Lee County | $1,864/mo | -1.2% | $277 |
| Clay County | $1,863/mo | +1.5% | $144 |
| Charlotte County | $1,863/mo | -0.8% | $81 |
| Polk County | $1,847/mo | +1.1% | $-8 |
| Hernando County | $1,835/mo | +0.5% | $44 |
| Volusia County | $1,746/mo | +0.8% | $267 |
| Citrus County | $1,739/mo | +1.5% | $-110 |
| Bay County | $1,735/mo | +1.3% | $335 |
| Sumter County | $1,732/mo | +1.5% | $649 |
| Escambia County | $1,678/mo | +2.7% | $87 |
| Alachua County | $1,662/mo | +1.5% | $216 |
| Levy County | $1,642/mo | – | $66 |
| Duval County | $1,628/mo | +1.6% | $182 |
| Wakulla County | $1,607/mo | +2.3% | $112 |
| Marion County | $1,593/mo | -0.3% | $51 |
| Columbia County | $1,552/mo | +1.9% | $41 |
| Highlands County | $1,513/mo | +1.2% | $-58 |
| Leon County | $1,482/mo | +1.4% | $314 |
| Putnam County | $1,363/mo | +0.6% | $-21 |
| Gadsden County | $1,325/mo | – | $-114 |
| Jackson County | $1,218/mo | – | $-102 |
Run your own comparison in the rent vs buy calculator.
Common questions
Where in Florida does buying beat renting fastest?
Look for the smallest own-vs-rent gap in the table: inland and North Florida counties, where home values are low relative to rents, break even in a few years; the South Florida metros and the Keys carry the widest gaps.
What does it take to move from renting to owning in Florida?
A down payment (3-5% on many first-time programs; Florida Hometown Heroes and county assistance can cover part of it), closing costs of roughly 2-5%, and an insurance quote before you shop. Our first-time buyer guide walks through each.
Is buying or renting cheaper in Florida right now?
On monthly math, owning typically costs more than renting in most counties today - the own-vs-rent gap column shows where the difference is small enough that buying wins quickly for anyone staying put.
Rent: Zillow Observed Rent Index; ownership costs: Momentum model estimates. As of 2026-09-11, deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.