CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Gainesville, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Gainesville is moderately cheaper than Boulder — 8.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $73,500 in Gainesville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing40.8%
Boulder
157
Gainesville
93
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Boulder
96.1
Gainesville
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Boulder
104.8
Gainesville
103.8
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
Boulder
94.8
Gainesville
93.9
Utilities+6.7%
Boulder
82.7
Gainesville
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Boulder to see what you'd need to earn in Gainesville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Gainesville, FL
$73,500
$6,500 less needed in Gainesville

Formula: salary × (96.7 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.9192. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Boulder has 40.8% lower housing costs compared to Gainesville.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.