Florida metro rent guide
Miami vs Orlando vs Tampa vs Jacksonville: Rent Compared (July 2026)
Data as of Jun 9, 2026 · 2,135 rentals across Florida’s four big metros
Florida’s four big metros are not in the same league on price. Jacksonville is the cheapest at about $1,292/mo typical, while Miami / South Florida is the priciest at around $2,101, roughly 63% more for the same size place. Tampa Bay and Orlando sit close together in the middle. We track every apartment we can find across all four and broke the medians out side by side.
Jacksonville
$1,292
typical / mo
Orlando
$1,498
typical / mo
Tampa Bay
$1,499
typical / mo
Miami / South Florida
$2,101
typical / mo
Typical rent by bedroom
| Metro | Studio | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $1,246 | $1,279 | $1,300 | - | 211 |
| Orlando | $1,069 | $1,515 | $1,499 | - | 340 |
| Tampa Bay | $1,638 | $1,452 | $1,650 | $2,030 | 365 |
| Miami / South Florida | $2,014 | $2,044 | $2,330 | $2,600 | 586 |
Each metro is its core city plus the suburbs renters search within it (St. Petersburg counts as Tampa Bay, Fort Lauderdale and Boca as Miami / South Florida). Per-bedroom medians appear only where we have at least 8 live listings of that floor plan.
Which metro fits you
Jacksonville is the value pick, the cheapest of the four top to bottom, with a lower cost of living and a growing job market. If keeping rent down is the priority, start here.
Tampa Bay and Orlando are the sensible middle, close to each other on price and each offering a big-city feel without Miami money. Tampa Bay leans coastal; Orlando is the theme-park and tech hub. Choose on neighborhood and commute, because the price difference is small.
Miami / South Florida is the splurge. It’s a coastal, supply-constrained, high-demand market, so rents run far above the rest of the state, and the gap only widens in the priciest pockets like Coral Gables, Aventura, and Miami Beach. Look inland (Hialeah, Homestead, Pembroke Pines) for the metro’s cheaper corners.
Everything here is the median across live listings, so half of apartments are cheaper and half pricier. Want the cheapest unit in any of these metros the moment it lists? Browse them on Budget Leases and save a search. Last updated Jun 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which big Florida metro has the cheapest rent?
Jacksonville, by a clear margin. Its typical rent is about $1,292/mo, the lowest of the four major Florida metros. Miami / South Florida is the priciest at around $2,101/mo typical, roughly 63% more.
How much more expensive is Miami than the rest of Florida?
A lot. Miami / South Florida runs about $2,101/mo typical versus $1,292 in Jacksonville, so you're paying well over a third more for the same size apartment. Tampa Bay and Orlando land in between, close to each other. The coast is the premium.
Tampa or Orlando, which is cheaper?
They run neck and neck, both around the mid-$1,400s to $1,500 for a typical unit, so neither has a clear edge statewide. Pick by neighborhood and commute rather than metro-level price; the by-bedroom table above shows where each pulls ahead.
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National · Comparison
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Texas · Comparison
Houston vs Dallas vs Austin vs San Antonio: Rent Compared
Texas's four biggest metros side by side, by bedroom. San Antonio is cheapest overall, Austin has the cheapest one-beds, and family units flip the ranking.
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