Florida has long been known as a retirement destination for seniors. With the state’s comfortable tropical climate and reasonable cost of living, it’s no wonder so many prefer to call Florida home during their golden years. In fact, more than 20% of the state’s 21,477,737 residents are aged 65 and older.

 

Independent living facilities provide seniors who are capable of caring for themselves with limited support as they age. In independent living communities, residents are typically provided with services such as housekeeping, meals and social activities while continuing to enjoy the freedom of an active, independent lifestyle. In Florida, the average cost of independent living is about $2,405 per month.

 

This guide covers more about the cost of independent living in Florida and surrounding states. It also provides information about how seniors can pay for independent living, as well as free resources that are available to seniors throughout the state

 

Note: Independent Living focuses on active social lives without supportive care and generally costs less than Assisted Living by 30-40%. Since there aren’t any authoritative reports available for Independent Living, we established an estimated cost by subtracting 35% from the average cost of Assisted Living as posted in the 2021 Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey.

 

Seniors in the Sunshine State pay less for Independent Living compared to the national average, about $325 less per month. However, the average costs in all the surrounding states are lower than in Florida. Compared to Florida, the average costs of Independent Living are less in Mississippi by $325, in Alabama by $322, in Georgia by $302 and in South Carolina by $252. Average costs are closest in Louisiana where they’re still lower by $164.

 

Within the state, cities have vastly different Independent Living costs. Down south, Miami’s average cost of Independent Living is $2,850 while Naples is $3,445. Seniors in the panhandle pay an average of $2,810 in Pensacola. On the Gulf side of Florida, Tampa offers an average cost of $2,178, while Orlando mirrors the state average of $2,600.

 

 

Seniors needing a higher level of care than they’d receive in Independent Living may want to consider other senior care options. Adult Day Health Care offers a low level of care with the lowest average cost at $1,517 per month. Assisted Living offers care in a residential setting at an average cost of $4,000. Seniors can also opt to receive care at home with an average cost of $4,767 for either In-Home Care or Home Health Care. Nursing Home Care has the highest cost but offers the highest level of care with semiprivate rooms averaging $8,654 and private rooms averaging $9,627.

 

 

Unfortunately, you cannot use Medicaid and Medicare to help pay the monthly fee for residing in an Independent Living community. For seniors who need help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), there may be financial assistance programs available to help cover the cost of care in Independent Living. For more information about financial assistance for those who need a higher level of care, read our guide to Assisted Living in Florida.

 

Read on for more information about using alternative means to make Independent Living more affordable, such as retirement funds, the sale of a home, etc.

 

Throughout Florida, there are several free and low-cost resources that can provide support for seniors who live there. These resources may provide help with medical insurance, nonmedical transportation, or other support services.