How much does it cost to rent in Gainesville, FL?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Gainesville, FL is $1,657. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Gainesville cheaper than other Florida cities?

Gainesville is among the more affordable cities in Florida, ranking #263 out of 288 cities at $1,657/mo.

When was Gainesville rent data last updated?

Gainesville rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · FL

Gainesville

Name: Average Rent Prices in Gainesville, FL
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 145,702·263rd most expensive in Florida·Gainesville rents are up 5.7% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,657/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.7%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

-$308

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Gainesville · $1,657

More affordable than 65% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

64/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 7% below what Gainesville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,657/mo

Expected by trend

$1,780/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Gainesville's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,217

1 BR

$1,354

2 BR

$1,639

3 BR

$2,089

4 BR+

$2,173

Research median

$1,639/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$19,884/yr

At $1,657/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.7% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Gainesville, FL is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 53.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

145,702

Median income

$46,195

Median age

26.5

Renters

62.3%

Age distribution

13.1%

50.7%

17%

Under 1813.1%

18–3450.7%

35–5417%

55–647.3%

65+11.9%

Gender

47.5%

52.5%

Male47.5%

Female52.5%

Race & ethnicity

58.3%

20.8%

13.6%

White58.3%

Black20.8%

Hispanic13.6%

Asian6.4%

Other0.8%

Education (25+)

16.3%

24.3%

53.7%

No HS diploma5.7%

HS diploma16.3%

Some college24.3%

Bachelor's+53.7%

Housing tenure

37.7%

62.3%

Owner37.7%

Renter62.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Gainesville, FL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,201 → $1,657

up 38.0%

Income

$40,937 → $46,195

up 12.8%

Population

138,741 → 145,702

up 5.0%

Renter share

60.3% → 62.3%

+2.0 pts

Bachelor's+

49% → 53.7%

+4.7 pts

Rent in Gainesville, FL has climbed 38.0% since 2021, going from about $1,201 per month to roughly $1,657 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $40,937 in 2021 to $46,195 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 138,741 to 145,702 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.0% change. About 62.3% of households rent today, against 60.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 49% to 53.7%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Gainesville, FL market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Gainesville

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View Gainesville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Gainesville on your salary?

At $1,657/mo, how Gainesville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $87,866/yr · Rent = 22.6% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $62,384/yr · Rent = 31.9% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $71,861/yr · Rent = 27.7% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $128,442/yr · Rent = 15.5% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $164,117/yr · Rent = 12.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $58,413/yr · Rent = 34% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,740/yr · Rent = 37.7% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,007/yr · Rent = 30.6% income

stretched

By apartment size

Gainesville rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Gainesville. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Gainesville

About renting in Gainesville, FL

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Gainesville is $1,657/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,217/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,639/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,354/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,089/mo.

At 43% of local median household income ($46,195/yr), Gainesville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Gainesville an affordable city for renters?

Gainesville is considered stretched for renters. At $1,657/mo, rent takes approximately 43% of the local median household income ($46,195/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Gainesville significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in Gainesville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (~$32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,657/mo in Gainesville. The local median household income is $46,195/yr, meaning the typical Gainesville household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Gainesville?

Rent in Gainesville has increased 5.7% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Gainesville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Gainesville are 32609 ($1,503/mo), 32601 ($1,530/mo), and 32607 ($1,537/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Gainesville is $1,657/mo.

How does Gainesville rent compare to other cities in Florida?

Gainesville is one of the more affordable cities in Florida for rent, ranking #263 out of 288 tracked cities at $1,657/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Gainesville?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Gainesville ($1,657/mo): Lake City ($1,540/mo), Ocala ($1,582/mo).

What percentage of Gainesville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 62.3% of Gainesville households are renters, while 37.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Gainesville has a strong rental market.

How does Gainesville rent compare to the national average?

Gainesville's median rent of $1,657/mo is $308 (16%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Florida, it ranks #263 out of 288 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

43%

STRETCHED

At $1,657/mo, rent takes ~43% of Gainesville's median household income ($46,195/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Gainesville 43%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Gainesville affordability calculator →

Nearby cities