No doubt you would like to know how far your US dollars will stretch and how much money (if any) you will have left after paying your bills. Americans enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world, although it remained static for the average American family throughout most of the 1970s and 1980s. Over 32 million Americans also live below the poverty line (estimated to be an annual income of around $17,000 for a family of four) including a third of all African-Americans and 25 per cent of Hispanics. There’s a huge (and widening) gap between rich and poor, the richest 1 per cent of households owning around 40 per cent of the nation’s wealth and the poorest 20 per cent less than 6 per cent. The cost of living in America varies considerably, depending on where and how you live. In Florida the cost of living varies from county to county, with the difference between the most expensive and the cheapest varying by over 20 per cent. Inflation was running at around 2.5 per cent in 2002. Floridians spend some 37.5 per cent of their income on housing; around 20 per cent on food; 15 per cent on health, recreation and services; 20 per cent on transportation (including automobiles); and 6.5 per cent on clothing. The best way to get an idea of food costs is to check the Florida Price Level Index, which compares the cost of living in each of Florida’s 67 counties with the state average.
It’s difficult to calculate an average cost of living in Florida, even for people living in the same city, as it depends very much on each individual’s particular circumstances and life-style. Your food bill will usually be around half the cost in most European countries and around $275 should be sufficient to feed two adults for a month in most areas (excluding alcohol, fillet steak and caviar). Apart from the cost of accommodation, goods and services, you should also take into account the level of local taxes, e.g. property, sales and other taxes.
The most expensive item for most people is their rent or mortgage payments, which can be astronomical in some cities, although if you need to pay your own health insurance, it could be more expensive than your rent or mortgage. However, even in the most expensive areas, the cost of living needn’t be astronomical and most people from western countries will find that most things are cheaper. If you shop wisely, compare prices and services before buying and don’t live too extravagantly, you may be pleasantly surprised at how little you can live on. Find More information about cost of living >>
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