Your Guide to Florida’s Best Places to Live in 2024

People are shifting to Florida as the state doesn’t impose an income tax. If you are looking forward to coming and staying in Florida, you should know that it has lots and lots of beaches, sunny winters, and an affordable cost of living.  

While searching for student accommodation in Florida, it’s important to choose the right location and neighbourhood. Just for your information, the smaller towns offer budget-friendly options.  

On the blog, we will cover everything about the best places to live in Florida, including the cost of living, its attractions, and a few others.  

Top Places To Live In Florida 

Miami 

This scenic city in Florida is an ideal place for all types of households. It has a good crowd of young professionals, students, families, etc. Speaking of its culture and nightlife, it is the capital city for non-stop nightlife in the world. The place is colourful, thriving and fun to live in! 

The best neighborhoods for students and young professionals are Brickell, Downtown, Wynwood, South Beach, Little Havana, Coconut Grove, etc.

The cost of living in Miami will come to around $1,318.1 (excluding student rent and fees). This will include your food, travel, and other expenses.  

For affordable student accommodation in Miami, you can check out Miami Beach West, Southwest Avenue, starting at $245 per week.

There are many things to do in Miami; you can visit the beaches, attend nightclubs, festivals, parties, cultural places, museums, art exhibitions, etc.  

Orlando 

Are you excited to shift to Orland? Well, you should be; you know why? This is the best place to live in Florida, as it offers benefits like quality living. It is perfect for those of you who like something more serene and quiet. Most people opt to stay in Orlando because of the recreational activities, low living costs, and job opportunities that are available in so many industries.  

The best neighborhoods for students and young professionals are Downtown, Lawsona, South Eola, North Quarter, Park Lake, etc.  

The cost of living in Orlando will come to about $1,161.2 (excluding rent and fees). This will include your food, travel, and other expenses.  

You can find low-cost student accommodations in Orlando, such as The Verge, Current Orlando, Lark Central Florida, etc., where rent will start at $800 per month.  

While you are in Orlando, you can check out Walt Disney World, Sea World, John Kennedy Space Center, Universal Island of Adventure, and many more.  

Tampa 

If you want to live in an extraordinary places in Florida, the Tampa is an ideal place! The city is known for many things, but one of the most famous among them is the bustling Ybor City. This place is just crowded with a lot of tourists. You will find many amusement parks, gardens, the Florida Aquarium, and many fine restaurants.  

Tampa has more than just extraordinary landscapes; it also offers beautiful beaches, a great food scene, an affordable cost of living, great weather to enjoy, and exciting activities. If you are thinking of moving to Tampa, then this is an ideal location, as it is one of the best places to live in the Southeast! 

The cost of living in Tampa will come to around $1,297.2 (excluding student rent and fees). This will include your food, travel, and other expenses.  

There is budget-friendly student accommodation in Tampa, you can check out The Hut, Uptown Cube, The OG, Double Decker, etc., starting from $850 per month. 

There are many things to do in Tampa; you can visit the theme parks, and attractions, do adventurous activities, explore arts & cultural centres, museums, city centres, etc.  

Gainesville 

Gainesville is one of the best places to live in the city of Florida because no other place can beat the quality of life it offers the residents! The reason is because the economy thrives on its health care and few others. If you want to live in the No. 1 city in Florida, then this is an ideal place to move in! Apart from the health care, the affordable living, excellent health care facilities and educational institutions are first class! 

The University of Florida is in Gainesville, making it the best university town, with a large student population living in this college town. The student life in Gainesville is amazing! 

Some of the best neighbourhoods for students are Midtown, Duckpond, St. Historic District, Haile Village, etc.  

The cost of living in Gainesville is cheaper than the national average of the country.  

You can find student accommodations in Gainesville, such as Windsor Hall, Alight, Lark Gainesville, Aero on the 24th, etc., starting from $899 per month.  

While you are in Gainesville, you can explore Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail, Depot Park, the Florida Museum of Natural History, Morningside Nature Park and many others.  

Tallahassee 

This beautiful city, Tallahassee offers low living costs with cheap student rent, Tallahassee will cater to all your needs! The place is nice as it has a welcoming and tight-knit community. There are students, professionals and families living here for many benefits.  

Apart from the cost, if you study here, you can get a good job too because of the growing job market. Because this is the capital city, there is access to everything here! This is a quick Tallahassee living guide to help you find the best place to live here.  

Some of the best neighborhoods for students and young professionals are Downtown, Betton Hills, Lafayette Park, Frenchtown, etc. 

The cost of living in Tallahassee is lower than the national average. This means that the housing cost is cheap to rent and stay! 

Be sure to have some fun while you are here, you can explore the Tallahassee Museum, View all Photos of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Mission San Luis de Apalachee, View all Photos of Knott House Museum, etc. 

Fort Lauderdale 

Moving to Fort Lauderdale? It is best known for its beaches, and this city is known for its fun activities. Fort Lauderdale ranks well in terms of desirability, employability, student mix, and more. It has a winning combination of a superior quality of life with a mesmerizing mix of beaches and sprawling green spaces. The people are laid back here and there’s a tight community too. If you are into beaches, boating, arts and culture, you found yourself a great place to settle in Florida! 

Some of the best neighbourhoods for students and young professionals are Coral Ridge, Lauderdale Isles, Colee Hammock, Victoria Park, etc.  

If you want something affordable, the living cost in Fort Lauderdale is about $ 1,195.9. It will not include your fees and rent. But, it will cover your food, transportation and other expenses.  

During your free time, visit Fort Lauderdale Beach, Las Olas Boulevard, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, History Fort Lauderdale and many others.  

Sarasota 

Known as Sarasota County, it is on the southern end of the country with Mexico as its closest border. It is known for its beaches, mouth-watering food, park and attractive nightlife. The city is also within easy reach of Ted Sperling Park where you can enjoy the mangroves and everything that entails like water boating, etc. Apart from the adventurous side of the city, you can also enjoy some arts, cultural events, dining, etc. Find quick info on Sarasota living tips.  

Some of the best neighbourhoods for students and young professionals are Bradenton, St. Petersburg, North Palmetto, Por, Clearwater, etc. 

If we talk about the cost of living and student accommodation options, then it is 6% higher than the national average. But, you can find affordable student accommodation in Sarasota. 

While you are here, go out and visit Red Bug Slough Preserve, The Ritz-Carlton, the treasure hunt at Red Barn Flea Market, Venice Beach, etc.  

End Note

That’s quite a list of the best places to live in Florida you’ve got there right? We have given a brief of each of the places. Now, it’s your job to start finding more information on the places you want to live! You must choose the right places as per your needs. Do remember to keep safety, budget, price, and amenities as factors before you jump into any decision.  

As a student, you can enjoy the affordability this place has to offer among many with a few other benefits which we have listed above. We hope it’s been an insightful reading! Happy city hunting in Florida!