A+
6%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
10%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Tavares Florida National
Cost of living9499100
Goods & Services94100100
Groceries105105100
Health care8294100
Housing9097100
Transportation9699100
Utilities9698100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in Tavares, FL

The cost of living in Tavares affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Tavares is 94, which is 6% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Tavares closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Tavares can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Tavares Affordable?

Is Tavares 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 Tavares is 16.3% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 5.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Tavares has a median household income of $64,206, which is 21.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Tavares?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Tavares, healthcare costs are 17.6% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Tavares, the groceries index is 4.5% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Tavares, the transportation index stands at 4.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Tavares displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Tavares is 5% lower than the Florida average
  • The cost of living in Tavares is 6% lower than the national average
  • Tavares housing is 10% lower 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 Tavares

See all the best places to live around Tavares

Compare Tavares, FL Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in Tavares?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Tavares?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Tavares poll results

      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$72,320$6,027$1,687$2,170
      Renters$55,460$4,622$1,294$1,664
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Tavares is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Tavares has a median income of about $72,320 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,687 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $55,460. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,294 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Tavares National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.72$27.6217.7%
      Beauty Salon $52.33$51.112.4%
      Toothpaste $4.02$4.091.8%
      Shampoo $1.70$1.5410.2%
      Movie $15.42$12.8819.7%
      Yoga $15.86$19.6619.3%

      Groceries

      Item Tavares National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.89$7.702.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.56$1.666.2%
      Milk $4.71$4.730.5%
      Potatoes $5.47$5.264.1%
      Pizza $11.76$12.767.9%
      Beer $11.44$10.558.4%

      Health Care

      Item Tavares National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $96.24$140.0631.3%
      Doctor $131.00$153.8214.8%
      Dentist $98.76$123.1519.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.86$11.731.1%
      Lipitor $18.05$23.6123.6%

      Housing

      Item Tavares National avg. Difference
      Home Price $273,279.00$326,622.0016.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,857.44$2,480.2525.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,524.00$1,444.005.5%

      Transportation

      Item Tavares National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.05$3.060.3%
      Tire Balancing $56.22$65.2113.8%

      Utilities

      Item Tavares National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $204.75$220.127.0%
      Phone $198.55$195.711.5%
      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.
      Sorrento, FL143964.2%
      Okahumpka, FL1497920.9%
      Paisley, FL1,3468217.6%
      Altoona, FL808514.8%
      Clarcona, FL4,8408812.3%
      Tavares, FL17,657945.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Neabsco, VA17,65913232.1%
      Winder, GA17,650981.8%
      Palos Hills, IL17,6641087.8%
      Bracebridge, ON17,648n/a 
      Tifton, GA17,6668811.9%
      Tavares, FL17,657945.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.