6 Cheapest Beach Towns in Florida (Updated 2023)
Florida is one of the most popular places for tourists because of its many beautiful beaches, fun and engaging amusement parks, and the incredible array of exciting activities throughout the state. Beach towns in Florida are trendy because they provide a great place to relax in the sun and are typically where most famous amusement centers are located. However, it can seem not very easy to find affordable Florida beach towns.
Thankfully, the cheapest beach towns in Florida don’t have to be impossible to find! There are some significant areas where you can invest in this state that are close to beaches. They will give you and your family a great first or second home and keep you close to the beach, a major win-win for any real estate investor.
This blog is perfect for people interested in buying Florida property or homes but wanting to save money. It’s a tough market right now, and finding the cheapest place to live in Florida by the beach can save you money and ensure you only pay a little. People looking to relocate for a job or retire after a long career may particularly enjoy these areas.
We’ll discuss various vital points to help you decide on buying in the least expensive beach towns in Florida. We’ll highlight the factors that make a place cheap to live in and discuss multiple essential tips that make this process easier. We aim to ensure that you get the high-quality support you need to buy a home in Florida.
How We Curated the Cheapest Beach Town List?
When researching this process, we carefully researched multiple sites to ensure you have the most accurate information possible. For example, we used highly trusted sites to identify median home prices, cost of living, pros and cons, and more. We tried to focus on government sites when possible or well-known and respected real estate teams.
Each of our lists is designed to be comprehensive, easy to understand, and fair to each town we research. It’s our goal to provide you with the best and most accurate information to ensure that you make a smart purchase when researching the cheapest beach towns in Florida. By sticking with authoritative sites, you’re likelier to find the cheapest place to live in Florida by the beach.
Sources
Please note that there’s a possibility of data limitation when compiling information about this article. Data may change regularly, so please research outside this article. Check out our sources below for an idea of which sites may help you. When possible, we searched for each city within these sites to create consistency in our estimates.
- Census.gov – Florida Population
- Zillow – Florida Home Values
- Smart Asset – Property Tax Estimator
- Salary.com – Cost of Living in Florida
- Citytistics – Insights on Cities Across America
Cheapest Places to Live in Florida by the Beach
The following affordable Florida beach towns are some of the most popular places to live in the state, which may surprise you. However, other cities you might not know have a surprisingly low-key and friendly environment. Thankfully, Florida’s least expensive beach towns aren’t necessarily tourist havens but can sometimes be a cozy little slice of heaven.
6. New Port Richey
Pasco County is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area and New Port Richey is one of the most popular cities in the area. It has a population of just 17,332, which gives it a small-town feel. However, it’s not far from the big city, which makes it a fun place to live. Here’s what you need to know about living in this city:
- Median Home Price: $314,634 per Zillow
- Taxes: $1,000 per $100,000 home value per Smart Asset
- Overall Cost of Living: 1.4% higher than the national average
- Things New Port Richey is Famous For: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and proximity to Tampa
Pros and Cons of Living in New Port Richey
New Port Richey is a popular option when choosing the cheapest place to live in Florida by the beach because of its livability and cost of living. This means that while the city has a slightly higher than average cost of living, the benefits of the beach, high-quality education, and a relaxing atmosphere make it a cozy and relaxing place to raise your children.
Crime has been a problem in New Port Richey, as has some stagnation in the population. You’re not likely to meet many new people when you live here, which is quite different from other affordable Florida beach towns. Thankfully, the crime is mostly limited to issues that aren’t likely to affect you, but keep that in mind before moving here.
Real Estate Sites to Check Out New Port Richey Properties
5. Cocoa
Cocoa is a Brevard County city that’s part of the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville metropolitan area and has a population of 19,559. This smaller feel gives Cocoa a cozy and relaxing feel that makes it great for retired people and family. If you’re interested in living in an inexpensive beach city in Florida, here are a few things you need to know about Cocoa:
- Median Home Price: $302,409 per Zillow
- Taxes: $920 per $100,000 home value per Smart Asset
- Overall Cost of Living: 0.9% lower than the national average
- Things Cocoa is Known For: Island Boat Lines and other unique water-based activities
Pros and Cons of Living in Cocoa
Cocoa’s low cost of living makes it an excellent place to live. It’s far below the national average, which gives it an affordable and great place to live. Livability is also strong here, with easy walkability among many parts of the city. The educational system is also pretty strong here, meaning it should be easy for your children to get the help they need to learn and grow.
Like some beach cities in Florida, Cocoa does have a bit of a crime problem that needs to be understood before you move here. These typically include some breaking and entering, as well as theft crimes. Violent crimes are rarer here, though possible. All cities have crime, of course, but Cocoa’s rates are a little higher than normal for the region.
Real Estate Sites to Check Out Cocoa Properties
4. Deerfield Beach
With a population of 86,772, Deerfield Beach is a fairly large city with a surprisingly low-key atmosphere. It’s one of the cheapest beach towns in Florida because it’s a hidden gem tucked tightly into the Miami area. That means you’re never far from a big city if you don’t mind the traffic. Here are some stats that show why this is one of the cheapest place to live in Florida by the beach:
- Median Home Price: $298,271 per Zillow
- Taxes: $1,200 per $100,000 home value per Smart Asset
- Overall Cost of Living: 16% higher than the national average
- Things Deerfield Beach is Famous For: The beautiful conservatory on the Intracoastal Waterway
Pros and Cons of Living in Deerfield Beach
As one of the cheapest beach towns in Florida, Deerfield Beach has a high livability index and a very low level of crime. Just as importantly, it has a strong educational system, one that should work well for people from all walks of life. If you have young children and you want them to have a comfortable life in Florida, try Deerfield Beach for a safe and educational environment.
Unfortunately, the overall cost of living in Deerfield Beach is much higher than in other areas of Florida, particularly in various utilities. That doesn’t mean it’s too expensive for most people to live in, but you need to consider these factors before moving here. It’s smart to contact your realtor when researching the least expensive beach towns in Florida.
Real Estate Sites to Check Out Deerfield Beach Properties
3. Titusville
Titusville is the county seat of Brevard County and is mostly known for being so close to Orlando, arguably the most popular tourist destination in the state. With a population of 49,319, it’s a fairly mid-sized city that should include plenty of fun things for you and your family to do. If you’re interested in moving here, it’s important to know a few critical price facts first:
- Median Home Price: $279,821 per Zillow
- Taxes: $920 per $100,000 home value per Smart Asset
- Overall Cost of Living: 0.3% higher than the national average
- Things Titusville is Famous For: Gold Tone Music Group, a very famous music instrument firm
Pros and Cons of Living in Titusville
Titusville might not be one of the most popular towns in Florida. However, that’s a big secret to why it’s such a great place to live. Simply put, it’s nowhere near as densely populated as places like Orlando, even though it’s not far from that big city. It also has a reasonable cost of living that is only minutely larger than the national average, making it very cozy.
As far as other affordable Florida beach towns go, Titusville struggles with a higher crime rate. While these crimes mostly consist of minor issues, there are bigger problems due to its proximity to the beach. For example, there is a drug problem here to seriously consider. That said, Titusville is worth investigating when picking the least expensive beach towns in Florida.
Real Estate Sites to Check Out Titusville Properties
2. Daytona Beach
Located in Volusia County near the Atlantic Ocean, Daytona Beach is one of the most popular places to live in Florida. With a population of 77,958 in the city and many more throughout the metropolitan area, it’s an interesting place to live with many fun and engaging activities. Let’s break down its overall cost of living to help you understand whether it’s a good choice for you:
- Median Home Price: $262,115 per Zillow
- Taxes: Between $920 per $100,000 home value per Smart Asset
- Overall Cost of Living: 2.1% lower than the national average
- Things Daytona Beach is Famous For: High-speed auto events and beautiful art
Pros and Cons of Living in Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach has an average of 237 days of sun yearly and has beautiful weather, making it a great place to live. There are also many cool parks, piers, and events to check out when you live here. It’s a great place to move if you’re a retiree because it has a large population of “snowbirds” or people relocating to escape bad snow-based weather.
However, you may not enjoy living here if you struggle with high heat, heavy tourism due to the Daytona 500, and higher flood insurance. Almost every city in Florida has a high risk of floods due to hurricanes, and Daytona Beach is no different. As a result, it’s important to keep that fact in mind if you’re interested in purchasing property here.
Real Estate Sites to Check Out Daytona Beach Properties
1. Pensacola
As the most western city in the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola is in a unique location. It has a slightly different feel than other beach cities in the area and has a population of 53,876 people in the city itself, with many more throughout the metropolitan area. Before buying a house here, make sure that you read through the information below to learn more about its costs:
- Median Home Price: $259,574 per Zillow
- Taxes: $820 per $100,000 home value per Smart Asset
- Overall Cost of Living: 6.1% lower than the national average
- Things Pensacola is Famous For: Beautiful beaches and plenty of great diving areas
Pros and Cons of Living in Pensacola
The low cost of living is by far the best thing about living in Pensacola. It is very affordable by just about every metric and provides you with a comfortable place to live at the same time. Pensacola also has a decent education system and a strong local support team that ensures you have great utilities and other advantages that make living here more comfortable.
That said, Pensacola does have a crime problem and is often considered one of the scariest places to live in the state. That all depends on various factors, including which neighborhood you move into and much more. As a result, it’s critical to talk with a real estate agent about this problem before moving to the area to keep your family and yourself safe.
Real Estate Sites to Check Out Pensacola Properties
Tips for Buying Beach Town Property in Florida
The cheapest beach towns in Florida can vary heavily yearly and might not be right for you based on specific circumstances. In this way, the cheapest place to buy in the state might not work the best for you, depending on many factors. Here are a few tips that you can keep in mind when choosing beach property that should make your decision easier:
- Importance of Choosing the Right Location: Make sure you carefully choose the cheapest beach towns in Florida, researching their overall population. Try to find a place that feels comfortable for your specific lifestyle.
- Local Policies and Taxes: Research the different policies and taxes in the region that might impact your finances and lifestyle. For example, you may own multiple large dogs and should do what you can to find a property supporting them.
- Available Local Agents: Try to work with a high-quality local real estate agent whenever purchasing affordable Florida beach towns. You want to find an agent who knows the area innately and who feels comfortable working with you.
- Potential Risks and Challenges: Florida is a beautiful state but pays for its beauty by being hit heavily by hurricanes and floods. It also has a very high heat index that can harm some people. Make sure you’re ready for these challenges before trying to live here.
- Potential Future Value: The value of your home may vary heavily based on multiple factors. Obviously, you can’t tell the future, but you can pay attention to things like changing property taxes. Lower property taxes could result in a higher demand in an area and increased costs.
Paying attention to these simple tips should make this process easier and avoid serious, long-term problems. Just as importantly, they can ensure that you get the home that you want at a price you can afford. Ensure you take them seriously to improve your research and find the best high-quality beachfront property that suits your needs.
FAQs on Cheapest Beach Towns in Florida
Generally, it’s cheaper to live on the west coast of Florida because it’s not as in heavy demand as the east coast and has fewer bigger cities. Keep that in mind when considering a purchase to ensure you get the best results possible.
Deerfield Beach might be the cheapest place to buy beachfront property in Florida. It’s a smaller area and typically isn’t as popular as other cities, reducing its real estate costs and making it a more affordable place for you to buy a home.
If you can afford a vacation home in Florida, it’s a smart investment for several reasons. First, you can rent it as an Airbnb when not there and make extra money (even paying its mortgage). Secondly, it gives you and your family a great place to relax.
Cozy and inexpensive places to live in Florida if you’re a senior include Sanibel, Apalachicola, Islamorada, Captiva, Palm Beach, and Destin. Typically, these regions provide a slightly smaller feel than bigger Florida cities and a lower crime rate than many others.
Related Read
- 10 Cheapest Beachfront Property in the World (Updated 2023)
- 7 Cheapest Beach Towns in California (Updated 2023)
