CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Ocala, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Ocala
95.2
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Ocala is slightly cheaper than Gainesville — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $78,800 in Ocala. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.3%
Gainesville
93
Ocala
86.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Gainesville
96.2
Ocala
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Gainesville
103.8
Ocala
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Gainesville
93.9
Ocala
93.9
Utilities1.2%
Gainesville
88.2
Ocala
87.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ocala, FL
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in Ocala

Formula: salary × (95.2 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 0.9845. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

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

Ocala, FL

Median Home Price
$271,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
86.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Gainesville has 7.3% lower housing costs compared to Ocala.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

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

Ocala, FL

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
63,591
Top Industries
HealthcareEquestrianManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Ocala, FL
3.1×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.