| Index | Bartow | Florida | National |
| Cost of living | 98 | 102 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 102 | 100 |
| Health care | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Housing | 87 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 101 | 104 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 109 | 106 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Bartow? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Bartow stands at 98, making it 2% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Bartow aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, household expenses, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Bartow residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.
Is Bartow an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Bartow, the median home price is 14.8% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 9.8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Bartow come in at $73,164, which is 10% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Bartow, the groceries index is 0.5% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Bartow, the utilities index stands at 9.1% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
The Bartow cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $103,969 | $8,664 | $2,426 | $3,119 |
| Renters | $45,227 | $3,769 | $1,055 | $1,357 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Florida | 6% | 7.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Florida | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Fussels Corner, FL | 4,949 | 87 | 13.4% |
| Wahneta, FL | 4,120 | 86 | 14.1% |
| Bradley Junction, FL | 727 | 88 | 12.2% |
| Mulberry, FL | 4,242 | 89 | 10.6% |
| Inwood, FL | 7,469 | 90 | 9.9% |
| Bartow, FL | 20,388 | 98 | 1.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Blythe, CA | 20,378 | 97 | 2.7% |
| Belle Glade, FL | 20,401 | 93 | 7.3% |
| Mililani Mauka, HI | 20,370 | 194 | 94.4% |
| Havelock, NC | 20,409 | 95 | 5.2% |
| Bothell West, WA | 20,411 | 151 | 51.1% |
| Bartow, FL | 20,388 | 98 | 1.8% |
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