4 Affordable Florida Beach Towns That Have Luxury Vacation Feels
Living in a beautiful beach town might seem like something you can do only if you’re wealthy, but the reality is that not all oceanfront communities are all that pricey. In fact, several parts of Florida have below-average home prices, where you can live like you’re on a luxury vacation without breaking the bank.
Explore More: 4 Affordable Cities Where $3,000 a Month Covers Rent, Food and Entertainment
Try This: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking
Below are four of these places, recommended by Brian Durham, vice president of risk management and managing broker at Realty Group LLC and Realty Group Premier. See which Florida beach towns are cheap but feel luxurious below.
Daytona Beach
On average, a home in Daytona Beach goes for around $246,000, which is significantly less than the statewide average of $373,000, according to Zillow. “Its relatively low cost of living and affordable housing make it an attractive choice,” Durham said.
The city is located along the central part of Florida’s Atlantic coastline and has “recreational opportunities, sporting events and numerous award-winning restaurants,” he added.
Fort Pierce
Another place along the Atlantic to consider is Fort Pierce, which is located roughly halfway between Daytona Beach and Miami in a region known as the Treasure Coast. Here, you can find a home for an average price of around $274,000.
“It has a very affordable cost of living, many beautiful beaches and The National Navy SEAL museum,” Durham said.
Cape Coral
If you’d prefer to live on the Gulf Coast side of Florida rather than the Atlantic, Cape Coral is a good place to look into, according to Durham. Granted, Cape Coral itself isn’t very beachy, but it offers easy access to beautiful areas like Sanibel Island.
The city is located next to Fort Myers in the southwestern part of the state, and while it’s fairly sizable with a population of over 200,000, it doesn’t necessarily feel like a big city, especially if you’re taking a short drive to nearby secluded beaches.
Plus, Cape Coral has “an extensive canal system with numerous boating and fishing opportunities,” Durham said. “It also offers amenities similar to some of the larger cities in Florida while still offering a slower pace of life.”
Here, the average home sells for $336,000, according to Zillow, so it’s not necessarily as cheap as some other options, but it’s still below the state average.
Clearwater
Lastly, another Gulf Coast option to consider is Clearwater, Durham recommended, especially if you’re looking for beachy living while being close to a major city — in this case, Tampa, the third-largest city in the state.
“So if you want to be near a larger airport, Clearwater is a great choice. Clearwater is also renowned for its beautiful beaches and clear water, hence the name. Along with its affordable cost of living, nightlife and food scene, this is a hard-to-beat place to live,” Durham said.
In Clearwater, the average home sells for $337,480, which is less than the state average and significantly less than the $369,079 average in Tampa itself.
Find Your Dream Beach Town
While these are all relatively affordable options to consider if you want to live near the beach, the good news is that there are many more towns and cities throughout Florida that don’t break the bank. You just might have to do some digging.
As a whole, Florida has been getting more expensive, but there are many parts of the state that are more affordable, especially if you look outside of southeastern Florida, where pricey places like Miami and Palm Beach are located.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion:
