Renting in Florida
Renting in Florida costs a real premium over the national average, and -- like home prices -- that premium varies enormously by metro. Florida's tenant-protection law is also more standardized than in many states, since a 2023 law preempted most local landlord-tenant ordinances in favor of one statewide set of rules.
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Learn moreStatewide rent figures, and why they disagree
Rent trackers disagree meaningfully on the statewide average, which is worth disclosing rather than picking one. Zillow puts the average rent across all bedroom counts and property types in Florida at about $2,450 as of 2026; a separate tracker following roughly 11,237 units across 80 Florida cities put the average at about $2,251 as of August 2026; and another estimate put the statewide range closer to $1,800-$2,000. One-bedroom units are commonly cited in the $1,400-$2,000 range and two-bedrooms in the $1,800-$2,400 range depending on the source and metro. One consistent figure: Florida rent runs about 17% above the national average by at least one tracker's estimate, and the market has cooled slightly, with one source citing roughly a $50 year-over-year decrease and describing the current statewide rental market as "cool."
City-level rents show the same wide spread as home prices
Zillow's market-level tracking put average rent at roughly $3,100 in Miami, $1,900 in Orlando, and $1,600 in Jacksonville as of 2026 -- nearly double between the most and least expensive of those three markets. As with buying, anchor your rental budget on the specific metro you're targeting rather than a statewide average.
Security deposits: no statewide cap, but real handling rules
Florida law places no limit on how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit (though a 2023 law, HB 1417, preempted most local ordinances that had tried to cap deposits or otherwise regulate rental terms, so cities and counties generally can't set their own limits anymore). Landlords must hold the deposit in a Florida bank, in either a non-interest-bearing separate account or an interest-bearing account -- if interest-bearing, the tenant is owed either 75% of the interest earned or 5% simple interest annually. The landlord has 30 days after receiving the deposit to notify the tenant in writing where it's held and under what terms.
Getting your deposit back
If a landlord intends to keep any part of a security deposit, Florida law requires written notice of the claim within 30 days of move-out, by certified mail to the tenant's last known address, itemizing the deduction; if no deductions are claimed, the deposit must be returned within 15 days. Keep move-in and move-out photos and a copy of your lease -- Florida's statewide standardization (post-HB 1417) means the same rules apply whether you're renting in Miami or the Panhandle, which at least makes it easier to know your rights regardless of where in the state you land.
Key takeaways
- Statewide average rent estimates range from about $1,800 to $2,450 depending on the tracker and methodology -- Florida rent runs roughly 17% above the national average by at least one estimate, with the market cooling modestly in 2026.
- City-level rents vary nearly as much as home prices: roughly $3,100 in Miami vs. $1,600 in Jacksonville per Zillow tracking.
- Florida places no cap on security deposit amounts, and a 2023 state law (HB 1417) preempted most local landlord-tenant ordinances -- the same statewide deposit-handling and return rules apply everywhere in Florida.
- Deposits held in interest-bearing accounts owe the tenant 75% of interest earned or 5% simple annual interest; deposits must be returned within 15 days (no deductions) or 30 days (with an itemized written claim).
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