High-rent costs are making it harder for many people to make ends meet in Florida, and that especially includes Southwest Florida – one of the most expensive areas to rent in the state.
According to the Out of Reach 2021 report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, an individual would have to make more than $26 an hour to afford housing in parts of Collier County.
On average, someone would have to work nearly three full-time jobs at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom rental home.
According to the report, one of the top five most expensive areas to rent is the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island area, where renters would need to make $55,000 annually on average to live comfortably.
The salaries needed to live comfortably in Cape Coral and Fort Myers are almost $48,000 each year and more than $42,000 in Punta Gorda.