City Comparison

Kissimmee vs Lakeland

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kissimmee

Florida
101
Average
$365,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$51,300
Median Income

Lakeland

Florida
92
Below Average
$307,000
Median Home
$1,525/mo
Median Rent
$64,200
Median Income

The Verdict

9.8%

Living in Lakeland costs 9.8% less than Kissimmee. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Kissimmee, you would need $68,317 in Lakeland.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
111
Kissimmee
79
Lakeland
Groceries
100
Kissimmee
103
Lakeland
Utilities
88
Kissimmee
102
Lakeland
Transportation
95
Kissimmee
85
Lakeland
Healthcare
90
Kissimmee
95
Lakeland

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kissimmee has the same purchasing power as $68,317 in Lakeland.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lakeland equals $82,337 in Kissimmee.

Living in Kissimmee vs Lakeland

Housing Costs

Kissimmee's housing index of 111 is higher Lakeland's 79, translating to median home prices of $365,000 vs $307,000. The $58,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,768 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,425/mo in Kissimmee compared to $1,525/mo in Lakeland, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Kissimmee and 103 in Lakeland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Kissimmee vs $489/month in Lakeland. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 88 in Kissimmee and 102 in Lakeland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Kissimmee vs $408 in Lakeland. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Kissimmee and 95 in Lakeland. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $51,300 in Kissimmee and $64,200 in Lakeland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,792 and $69,783 respectively. Lakeland residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,197/month to housing in Kissimmee vs $1,498/month in Lakeland. In Kissimmee, median rent of $1,425/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Lakeland, median rent of $1,525/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 32 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lakeland is 9.8% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 101.
A $75,000 salary in Kissimmee has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,317 in Lakeland, based on the cost of living difference.
Kissimmee's housing index is 111 with median homes at $365,000, while Lakeland's is 79 with median homes at $307,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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