Cost of Living in Sweetwater, FL

Population 19,544 · Florida · Data vintage 2023

101
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Sweetwater is a smaller Florida community of around 20000 residents, where median household incomes of $55,154 and housing costs ($251,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. Rental affordability is stretched — $1,699/month works out to about 37% of median household income, above the 30% "cost-burdened" line.

Sweetwater sits roughly 8 miles southwest of Hialeah — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Median home values run roughly 30% lower than Hialeah's $359,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 82
Rent 129

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Sweetwater

The median home value in Sweetwater is $251,000 — 18% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,699/month, 29% higher than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $55,154/year is 26% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, below the national average of 4.8%. Florida charges no state income tax, a meaningful advantage for take-home pay. The climate averages highs of 84.2°F and lows of 70.7°F. Overall, Sweetwater has a cost of living index of 101 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 1% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$251,000
18% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$443,282
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,699/mo
29% above avg
Zillow Rent
$2,716/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.3x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
0.9%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,085
1 BR
$1,181
2 BR
$1,427
3 BR
$1,797
4 BR
$2,099
Owner-occupied 39.5%
Renter-occupied 60.5%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,699
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $2,313/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
30.3 min
12% above avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
5.4%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
83.0%
Carpooled
6.5%
Public transit
2.1%
Walked
1.1%
Bicycle
0.2%
Work from home
5.4%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax (flat) None
Total Sales Tax 7.0%
State rate 6.0%
Avg local rate 1.1%
Property Tax 0.9%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$55,154
26% below avg
Per Capita Income
$21,423
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
4% below avg
Poverty Rate
16.3%
Labor Force Participation
62.1%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 17.1%
Graduate degree 3.9%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 41.9
Male median age 40.9
Female median age 43.3

🌤 Climate

NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Avg High
84.2°F
Avg Low
70.7°F
Annual Precip
67.4"
Annual Snowfall
0"
60° 70° 80° 90° 100° JFMAMJJASOND High Low Precip
Month JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F 767881848789919189868178
Low °F 616366707376787877746864
Precip" 1.832.152.463.366.3210.517.369.5810.227.653.532.44

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 48 — Good
56.7%
Good air days/yr
170
Max AQI recorded
272
PM2.5 days
76
Ozone days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Sweetwater, FL?

Sweetwater has a cost index of 101 (100 = national average). It is 1% above the national average.

What is average rent in Sweetwater, FL?

The median gross rent in Sweetwater is $1,699 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Sweetwater?

The median home value in Sweetwater is $251,000 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Sweetwater?

The median household income in Sweetwater is $55,154 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Sweetwater, FL?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Sweetwater is 7.0%. Florida has no state income tax.

Is Sweetwater, FL affordable?

Sweetwater is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 101 (100 = US average).

What is the weather like in Sweetwater?

Sweetwater has average high temperatures of 84.2°F and average lows of 70.7°F. Annual precipitation is 67.4". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.

Sweetwater at a Glance

Population
19,544
Median Income
$55,154
Home Value
$251,000
Median Rent
$1,699/mo
Unemployment
4.6%
Avg High Temp
84.2°F
Sales Tax
7.0%
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