Your Guide to Florida’s Best Places to Live in 2025

People are shifting to Florida as the state doesn’t impose an income tax. If you are looking forward to coming and staying in Florida, you should know that it has lots and lots of beaches, sunny winters, and an affordable cost of living.

While searching for student accommodation in Florida, it’s important to choose the right location and neighbourhood. Just for your information, the smaller towns offer budget-friendly options.

In this blog, we will cover everything about the best places to live in Florida, including the cost of living, its attractions, and a few others.

What are the Top Places To Live In Florida for 2025?

Florida’s appeal continues to soar in 2025—and it’s not just because of the palm trees or no-income-tax perk. With year-round sunshine, diverse cities, and relatively low living costs, students and young professionals alike are visiting Florida. According to real estate and lifestyle reports, the top places to live in Florida for 2025 are:

• Miami – Great for students and professionals seeking culture, nightlife, and diversity. Average living cost: $1,318/month (excluding rent).
• Orlando – Known for low living costs, job opportunities, and major attractions like Disney. Living cost: ~$1,161/month. 
• Tampa – Offers a mix of coastal charm, affordable living, and a strong food and cultural scene. Living cost: ~$1,297/month. 
• Gainesville – Affordable, health-care focused, and perfect for students (home to the University of Florida). 
• Tallahassee – Capital city vibes with low living costs and a tight-knit student community. 
• Fort Lauderdale – Excellent quality of life, beaches, and a laid-back yet vibrant lifestyle. 
• Sarasota – For those who want nature, nightlife, and access to the Gulf—all in one. 

What Makes Miami One of the Top Places to Live in Florida?

This scenic city in Florida is an ideal place for all types of households. It has a good crowd of young professionals, students, families, etc. Speaking of its culture and nightlife, it is the capital city for non-stop nightlife in the world. The place is colourful, thriving, and fun to live in! Following are the key details of why Miami is considered as best place to live in Florida: 

• The best neighborhoods for students and young professionals are Brickell, Downtown, Wynwood, South Beach, Little Havana, Coconut Grove, etc. 
• The cost of living in Miami will come to around $1,318.1 (excluding student rent and fees). This will include your food, travel, and other expenses.   
• For affordable student accommodation in Miami, you can check out Miami Beach West, Southwest Avenue, starting at $245 per week. 
• There are many things to do in Miami; you can visit the beaches, attend nightclubs, festivals, parties, cultural places, museums, art exhibitions, etc.   

What Makes Orlando One of the Top Places to Live in Florida? 

Are you excited to shift to Orland? Well, you should be; you know why? This is the best place to live in Florida, as it offers benefits like quality living. It is perfect for those of you who like something more serene and quiet. Most people opt to stay in Orlando because of the recreational activities, low living costs, and job opportunities that are available in many industries.  Following are the key details of why Orlando is considered is considered as best place to live in Florida: 

• The best neighborhoods for students and young professionals are Downtown, Lawsona, South Eola, North Quarter, Park Lake, etc.
• The cost of living in Orlando will come to about $1,161.2 (excluding rent and fees). This will include your food, travel, and other expenses.
• You can find low-cost student accommodations in Orlando, such as The Verge, Current Orlando, Lark Central Florida, etc., where rent will start at $800 per month. 
• While you are in Orlando, you can check out Walt Disney World, Sea World, John Kennedy Space Center, Universal Island of Adventure, and many more.

What Makes Tampa One of the Top Places to Live in Florida? 

If you want to live in an extraordinary place in Florida, Tampa is an ideal place! The city is known for many things, but one of the most famous among them is the bustling Ybor City. This place is just crowded with a lot of tourists. You will find many amusement parks, gardens, the Florida Aquarium, and many fine restaurants.  Following are the key details of why Tampa is considered as a best place to live in Florida:

• This place has more than just extraordinary landscapes; it also offers beautiful beaches, a great food scene, an affordable cost of living, great weather to enjoy, and exciting activities.
• The cost of living in Tampa will come to around $1,297.2 (excluding student rent and fees). This will include your food, travel, and other expenses.
• There is budget-friendly student accommodation in Tampa, you can check out The Hut, Uptown Cube, The OG, Double Decker, etc., starting from $850 per month.
• In addition to this, there are many things to do in Tampa; you can visit the theme parks, attractions, do adventurous activities, explore arts & cultural centres, museums, city centres, etc.

What Makes Gainesville One of the Top Places to Live in Florida? 

Gainesville is one of the best places to live in the city of Florida because no other place can beat the quality of life it offers the residents! The reason is because the economy thrives on its health care. Apart from health care, affordable living, excellent health care facilities and educational institutions are first class! Following are the key details of Why Tampa is considered as a best place to live in Florida:

• The University of Florida is in Gainesville, making it the best university town, with a large student population living in this college town.
• Some of the best neighbourhoods for students here are Midtown, Duckpond, St. Historic District, Haile Village, etc.
• The cost of living in Gainesville is cheaper than the national average of the country.  You can find student accommodations in Gainesville, such as Windsor Hall, Alight, Lark Gainesville, Aero on the 24th, etc., starting from $899 per month.
• While you are in Gainesville, you can explore Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail, Depot Park, the Florida Museum of Natural History, Morningside Nature Park and many others.

What Makes Tallahassee One of the Top Places to Live in Florida? 

This beautiful city, Tallahassee offers low living costs with cheap student rent, to cater for all your needs! The place is nice as it has a welcoming and tight-knit community. There are students, professionals, and families living here for many benefits.  Apart from the cost, if you study here, you can get a good job too because of the growing job market.  Following are the key details of why Tallahassee is considered as a best place to live in Florida:

• Because this is the capital city, students have access to everything here! Some of the best neighborhoods for students and young professionals are Downtown, Betton Hills, Lafayette Park, Frenchtown, etc.
• The cost of living in Tallahassee is lower than the national average. This means that the housing cost is cheap to rent and stay!
• Be sure to have some fun while you are here, you can explore the Tallahassee Museum, View all Photos of St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Mission San Luis de Apalachee, View all Photos of Knott House Museum, etc.

What Makes Fort Lauderdale One of the Top Places to Live in Florida?  

Moving to Fort Lauderdale? It is best known for its beaches, and this city is known for its fun activities. It ranks well in terms of desirability, employability, student mix, and more. This place has a winning combination of a superior quality of life with a mesmerizing mix of beaches and sprawling green spaces. Following are the key details of why Fort Lauderdale is considered as a best place to Live in Florida:

• The people are laid back here and there’s a tight community too. If you are into beaches, boating, arts and culture, you found yourself a great place to settle in Florida!
• Some of the best neighbourhoods for students and young professionals are Coral Ridge, Lauderdale Isles, Colee Hammock, Victoria Park, etc. 
• If you want something affordable, the living cost in Fort Lauderdale is about $ 1,195.9. It will not include your fees and rent. But it will cover your food, transportation and other expenses.
• During your free time, visit Fort Lauderdale Beach, Las Olas Boulevard, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, History Fort Lauderdale and many others.

What Makes Sarasota One of the Top Places to Live in Florida?  

Known as Sarasota County, it is on the southern end of the country with Mexico as its closest border. It is known for its beaches, mouth-watering food, park and attractive nightlife. The city is also within easy reach of Ted Sperling Park where you can enjoy the mangroves and everything that entails like water boating, etc. Apart from the adventurous side of the city, you can also enjoy some arts, cultural events, dining, etc. Following are the key details of why Sarasota is considered as the best city to live in:

• Some of the best neighbourhoods for students and young professionals are Bradenton, St. Petersburg, North Palmetto, Por, Clearwater, etc.
• If we talk about the cost of living and student accommodation options, then it is 6% higher than the national average. But, you can find affordable student accommodation in Sarasota.
• While you are here, go out and visit Red Bug Slough Preserve, The Ritz-Carlton, the treasure hunt at Red Barn Flea Market, Venice Beach, etc.

How to Book Top Student Accommodations in Florida? 

So, you’ve picked Florida. Great choice—now comes the part where you actually find a place to live. Whether you’re flying in from across the globe or just moving cities, booking student housing in Florida can be smooth if you know what to do (and what to avoid). Here’s a practical guide with no fluff:

• Know Your Budget Range (and Stick to It): Before you even browse listings, figure out what you can actually afford each month—including rent, utilities, food, and fun. Many Florida student accommodations fall between $700–$1,200/month, but prices can go way up in cities like Miami or Tampa.
• Talk to Former or Current Students: Join uni forums, Facebook groups, or subreddits. Ask what areas they recommend and if they’ve stayed in any of the properties you’re eyeing. First-hand reviews beat polished listings any day.
• Watch Out for Hidden Costs: Some rentals look cheap… until you get hit with admin fees, security deposits, or utility add-ons. Always ask for a total monthly cost breakdown before signing anything.
• Use Verified Platforms: Trusted platforms like University Living list pre-verified student accommodations with options like flexible lease terms, furnished rooms, and 24/7 support.
• Save Your Booking Confirmation: You’ll need proof of accommodation for visa paperwork, school registration, and in some cases, insurance. Once booked, keep all rental agreements and receipts handy.

Conclusion

That’s quite a list of the best places to live in Florida you’ve got there right? We have given a brief of each of the places. Now, it’s your job to start finding more information on the places you want to live! You must choose the right places as per your needs. Do remember to keep safety, budget, price, and amenities as factors before you jump into any decision.

As a student, you can enjoy the affordability this place has to offer among many with a few other benefits which we have listed above. We hope it’s been an insightful reading! Happy city hunting in Florida!