Lake Wales, FL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Lake Wales, FL Summary

Cost of living in Lake Wales research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Lake Wales is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Florida, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Lake Wales is 88, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Lake Wales is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Lake Wales ranks as the #57 cheapest in Florida out of 459.

  • Lake Wales ranks as the #1,278 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Lake Wales is $189,700.

  • The median income in Lake Wales is $49,226.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
88
Lake Wales's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Lake Wales, FL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Wales has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Florida, Lake Wales has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Florida's index of 101.

The standard of living in Lake Wales ranks as #57 most affordable out of the 459 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies Lake Wales ranks as the #402 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.

For more reading on life in Lake Wales, check out:

57 out of 459
In Florida
1,278 out of 6,412
In America

Lake Wales Cost Of Living Vs. Florida

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Wales. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Lake Wales is 95.

  • The Groceries index in Lake Wales is 101.

  • The Health index in Lake Wales is 92.

  • The Housing index in Lake Wales is 66.

  • The Transportation index in Lake Wales is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Lake Wales is 101.

Living Expense Lake Wales Florida National Average
Overall 88 101 100
Services 95 98 100
Groceries 101 101 100
Health 92 96 100
Housing 66 108 100
Transportation 98 98 100
Utilities 101 100 100
For more reading on cost of living around Florida, check out:
Lake Wales Cost of Living Vs. FL

Lake Wales, FL Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Florida, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Lake Wales is $189,700.

  • The Median Rent in Lake Wales is $930.

  • The Median Income in Lake Wales is $49,226.

  • The Home Value To Income in Lake Wales is 3.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Wales is 0.23x.

Statistic Lake Wales Florida United States
Median Home Value $189,700 $248,700 $244,900
Median Rent $930 $1,301 $1,163
Median Income $49,226 $61,777 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.9x 4.0x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.23x 0.25x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Lake Wales, FL
$189,700
Median Home Value
$930
Median Rent
$49,226
Median Income

Lake Wales, FL Costs By Category

Detailed Lake Wales Services Costs Vs. Florida

Item Lake Wales Florida
Shampoo $1.0 $1.06
Movie $10.55 $10.68
Bowling $14.36 $14.67
Haircut $20.89 $18.62
Beauty Salon $54.17 $39.05

Detailed Lake Wales Groceries Costs Vs. Florida

Item Lake Wales Florida
Ground Beef $4.46 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.27 $1.39
Milk $2.39 $2.05
Potatoes $3.42 $3.29
Pizza $9.66 $10.62
Beer $9.23 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.89 $2.34

Detailed Lake Wales Health Costs Vs. Florida

Item Lake Wales Florida
Optometrist $100.39 $108.57
Doctor $83.46 $116.17
Dentist $97.71 $99.13

Detailed Lake Wales Transportation Costs Vs. Florida

Item Lake Wales Florida
Gasoline $2.1 $2.22
Tire Balancing $49.25 $50.07

Detailed Lake Wales Utilities Costs Vs. Florida

Item Lake Wales Florida
All Electricity $164.06 $167.67
Phone $187.87 $175.64

Lake Wales SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
5
Diversity
9.5
Safety
6
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Wales

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Wales. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Poinciana, FL has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Lake Wales.

  • Winter Haven, FL has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Lake Wales.

  • Bartow, FL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Lake Wales.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Lake Wales
Poinciana, FL 68,922 95 1.1x
Winter Haven, FL 48,707 89 1.0x
Bartow, FL 18,880 90 1.0x
Auburndale, FL 15,704 90 1.0x
Cypress Gardens, FL 10,223 95 1.1x
Highland, IL 10,215 88 1.0x

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