CostIndexUSA

Huntsville, AL vs Lakeland, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
FL
Lakeland
97.1
overall index
$1,825/mo rent

Huntsville is slightly cheaper than Lakeland — 4.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntsville, you would need $83,400 in Lakeland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+23.1%
Huntsville
77.9
Lakeland
95.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Huntsville
96.4
Lakeland
96.2
🚗 Transportation+2.3%
Huntsville
101.5
Lakeland
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+2.2%
Huntsville
91.9
Lakeland
93.9
Utilities+3.6%
Huntsville
83.9
Lakeland
86.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Huntsville to see what you'd need to earn in Lakeland to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lakeland, FL
$83,400
$3,400 more needed in Lakeland

Formula: salary × (97.1 ÷ 93.1) = salary × 1.0430. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Lakeland, FL

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,825
Housing Index
95.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.5×

Lakeland has 23.1% higher housing costs compared to Huntsville.

Income & Job Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

Lakeland, FL

Median Household Income
$66,900
Per Capita Income
$38,100
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
119,428
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Lakeland, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.