CostIndexUSA

Lakeland, FL vs Racine, WI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Lakeland
97.1
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
More AffordableWI
Racine
96
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Racine is slightly cheaper than Lakeland — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lakeland, you would need $79,100 in Racine. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.1%
Lakeland
95.9
Racine
92
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Lakeland
96.2
Racine
93.8
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Lakeland
103.8
Racine
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Lakeland
93.9
Racine
94.4
Utilities+3.6%
Lakeland
86.9
Racine
90

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Racine, WI
$79,100
$900 less needed in Racine

Formula: salary × (96 ÷ 97.1) = salary × 0.9887. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lakeland, FL

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

Racine, WI

Median Home Price
$293,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
92
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Lakeland has 4.1% lower housing costs compared to Racine.

Income & Job Market

Lakeland, FL

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

Racine, WI

Median Household Income
$74,000
Per Capita Income
$42,200
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
78,900
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lakeland, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Racine, WI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.