Cost of living comparison

 United States
compared to
 Lakeland (FL), United States
Lakeland vs. United States Cost of Living Summary

Lakeland is 4.5% cheaper than United States overall.

Restaurants
pay 1.6% more in Lakeland
Groceries
pay 11.4% more in Lakeland
Transportation
pay 1.5% more in Lakeland
Housing
pay 5.5% less in Lakeland
Childcare
pay 43.6% less in Lakeland
Entertainment and Sports
pay 12.3% less in Lakeland
Clothing
pay 15.1% more in Lakeland

The cost of clothing, groceries, restaurants, and transportation in Lakeland are more expensive than in United States. Expenses including childcare, entertainment and sports, and housing are lower in Lakeland.

Lakeland vs. United States Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Lakeland instead of United States, you would:

pay 1.6% more for restaurants

 
United States
Lakeland
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $18.59
 
$20.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.47
 
$9.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.50
 
$2.60
 

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pay 11.4% more for groceries

 
United States
Lakeland
Bread
1 loaf
$3.49
 
$4.33
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $6.33
 
$6.06
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.91
 
$4.21
 

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pay 1.5% more for transportation

 
United States
Lakeland
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.61
 
$3.22
 
Monthly public transit pass $65.15
 
??
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $31,583.67
 
$36,050.00
 

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pay 5.5% less for housing

 
United States
Lakeland
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$67.50
 
$53.50
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,655.99
 
$1,893.33
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,423.40
 
$1,546.33
 

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pay 43.6% less for childcare

 
United States
Lakeland
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,351.84
 
$675.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $22,265.44
 
$14,000.00
 

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pay 12.3% less for entertainment and sports

 
United States
Lakeland
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.78
 
$5.50
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.04
 
$5.05
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.68
 
$7.78
 

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pay 15.1% more for clothing

 
United States
Lakeland
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$50.38
 
$56.43
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$40.66
 
$45.60
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$85.52
 
$101.25
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: June 2025
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