CostIndexUSA

Lakeland, FL vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostFL
Lakeland
97.1
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
NY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Lakeland and Rochester have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing8.8%
Lakeland
95.9
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries+3.6%
Lakeland
96.2
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation1.2%
Lakeland
103.8
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.1%
Lakeland
93.9
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+53.3%
Lakeland
86.9
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$79,900
$100 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 97.1) = salary × 0.9990. 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×

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Lakeland has 8.8% lower housing costs compared to Rochester.

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

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

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)

Rochester, NY
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.