B+
10%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
24%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Miami Gardens Florida National
Cost of living11098100
Goods & Services10698100
Groceries10499100
Health care9696100
Housing12496100
Transportation10399100
Utilities10397100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Miami Gardens, FL

Understanding the cost of living in Miami Gardens can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Miami Gardens cost of living index is 110, which is 10% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Housing costs significantly influence the Miami Gardens cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 23.8%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Is Miami Gardens Affordable?

Is Miami Gardens an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Miami Gardens is 17.2% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 39.1% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Miami Gardens has a median household income of $46,760, which is 15.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Miami Gardens?

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Miami Gardens, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6%, and income tax rates start at 0%.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Miami Gardens, the healthcare costs are 4.2% lower than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Miami Gardens, the transportation index is 2.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Miami Gardens cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Miami Gardens is 13% higher than the Florida average
  • The cost of living in Miami Gardens is 10% higher than the national average
  • Miami Gardens housing is 24% higher than the national average
  • Florida general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Florida state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Miami Gardens

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Compare Miami Gardens, FL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$53,769$4,481$1,255$1,613
      Renters$34,666$2,889$809$1,040
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Miami Gardens, FL, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Miami Gardens have a median income of $53,769. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,255 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $34,666, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $809.

      Florida Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Florida 6% 7.5%

      Florida Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Florida 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Miami Gardens National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.53$24.2615.4%
      Beauty Salon $88.07$45.5693.3%
      Toothpaste $3.51$3.705.2%
      Shampoo $1.53$1.2819.7%
      Movie $14.35$12.1318.2%
      Bowling $23.67$18.0031.5%

      Groceries

      Item Miami Gardens National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.11$5.844.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.2%
      Milk $4.60$4.671.5%
      Potatoes $5.24$4.936.2%
      Pizza $14.13$12.0916.9%
      Beer $11.44$10.419.9%

      Health Care

      Item Miami Gardens National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $98.49$125.6821.6%
      Doctor $127.08$135.786.4%
      Dentist $107.83$113.294.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.10$10.654.2%
      Lipitor $490.35$468.604.6%

      Housing

      Item Miami Gardens National avg. Difference
      Home Price $216,500.00$184,700.0017.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,109.00$2,346.6932.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,320.00$949.0039.1%

      Transportation

      Item Miami Gardens National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.49$3.460.8%
      Tire Balancing $64.09$59.927.0%

      Utilities

      Item Miami Gardens National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $200.94$193.993.6%
      Phone $194.37$192.251.1%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Medley, FL1,0538712.6%
      Pembroke Park, FL6,7168910.9%
      Gladeview, FL13,490981.8%
      Franklin Park, FL1,549981.7%
      Roosevelt Gardens, FL2,068991.0%
      Miami Gardens, FL110,76711010.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Everett, WA110,84013433.5%
      West Palm Beach, FL111,00611515.2%
      Gresham, OR110,45612423.9%
      Lakeland, FL110,335964.4%
      Pompano Beach, FL111,20211110.5%
      Miami Gardens, FL110,76711010.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.