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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Lakeland, FL is $1,689. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Lakeland cheaper than other Florida cities?

Lakeland is among the more affordable cities in Florida, ranking #257 out of 288 cities at $1,689/mo.

When was Lakeland rent data last updated?

Lakeland 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

Lakeland

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

Pop. 119,961·257th most expensive in Florida·Rental market data updated monthly for Lakeland, FL

Median rent (all units)

$1,689/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$276

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Lakeland · $1,689

More affordable than 62% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

74/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 12% below what Lakeland's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,689/mo

Expected by trend

$1,914/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,163

1 BR

$1,171

2 BR

$1,433

3 BR

$1,928

4 BR+

$2,410

Research median

$1,433/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

$20,268/yr

At $1,689/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.1% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Lakeland, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 29.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

119,961

Median income

$64,185

Median age

38.9

Renters

43.6%

Age distribution

19%

26.1%

22.4%

21.5%

Under 1819%

18–3426.1%

35–5422.4%

55–6411%

65+21.5%

Gender

48.7%

51.3%

Male48.7%

Female51.3%

Race & ethnicity

58.9%

18.5%

20.5%

White58.9%

Black18.5%

Hispanic20.5%

Asian2.6%

Education (25+)

31.5%

30.6%

29.4%

No HS diploma8.5%

HS diploma31.5%

Some college30.6%

Bachelor's+29.4%

Housing tenure

56.4%

43.6%

Owner56.4%

Renter43.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Lakeland, FL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,261 → $1,689

up 33.9%

Income

$52,972 → $64,185

up 21.2%

Population

110,401 → 119,961

up 8.7%

Renter share

45.3% → 43.6%

-1.7 pts

Bachelor's+

26.9% → 29.4%

+2.5 pts

Median age

40.9 → 38.9

-2.0 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Lakeland, FL has increased by $428 per month, settling near $1,689 after starting the period at $1,261. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $52,972 in 2021 to $64,185 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 12.7 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 110,401 to 119,961 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.7% change. About 43.6% of households rent today, against 45.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 26.9% to 29.4%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lakeland, FL market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Lakeland

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View Lakeland rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lakeland on your salary?

At $1,689/mo, how Lakeland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $87,866/yr · Rent = 23.1% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $62,384/yr · Rent = 32.5% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $71,861/yr · Rent = 28.2% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $128,442/yr · Rent = 15.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $164,117/yr · Rent = 12.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $58,413/yr · Rent = 34.7% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,740/yr · Rent = 38.4% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,007/yr · Rent = 31.2% income

stretched

By apartment size

Lakeland rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lakeland

About renting in Lakeland, FL

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Lakeland is $1,689/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,163/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,433/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,171/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,928/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($64,185/yr), Lakeland ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lakeland an affordable city for renters?

Lakeland is considered moderate for renters. At $1,689/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($64,185/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lakeland slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Lakeland?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,689/mo in Lakeland. The local median household income is $64,185/yr, meaning the typical Lakeland household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lakeland?

Rent in Lakeland has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.1% change year over year as of July 2026.

Which Lakeland neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Lakeland are 33801 ($1,518/mo), 33803 ($1,564/mo), and 33805 ($1,589/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Lakeland is $1,689/mo.

How does Lakeland rent compare to other cities in Florida?

Lakeland is one of the more affordable cities in Florida for rent, ranking #257 out of 288 tracked cities at $1,689/mo.

What percentage of Lakeland residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 43.6% of Lakeland households are renters, while 56.4% are owner-occupied. Lakeland leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Lakeland rent compare to the national average?

Lakeland's median rent of $1,689/mo is $276 (14%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Florida, it ranks #257 out of 288 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $1,689/mo, rent takes ~32% of Lakeland's median household income ($64,185/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lakeland 32%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Lakeland affordability calculator →

Nearby cities