A lot of the things you’ve probably heard about the University of Florida are true: Yes, the coursework is tough—get used to spending a lot of time at the main library, aka “Club West.” Yes, you will get lost in Turlington Hall at least once. Yes, there are live alligators on campus (big ones, too, but they generally stick to their ponds and lakes). And yes, game day at The Swamp is totally bananas… starting with the tailgating. Luckily, the rental homes and apartments in town tend to be extremely affordable, with great living arrangements near campus available for any budget. You’ll have nearly endless options when it comes to dining and nightlife, with midtown directly across from the stadium and downtown just a few blocks away offering good times for every taste. Gainesville’s live music scene is superb, with everything from small pop-up shows at the student union to massive concerts at the O-Dome to punk rock ragers at the numerous downtown dives. For a late night snack, head to Flaco’s, home of the amazingly meaty Cuban Gator sandwich… be warned, the line stretches around the block at closing time on the weekends, but it’s absolutely worth the wait.
The Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is known as "The Swamp"
Cheer on the Gators basketball team at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Gainesville, FL is $983 for a studio, $1,261 for one bedroom, $1,525 for two bedrooms, and $1,804 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Gainesville has decreased by -0.1% in the past year.
Studio
364 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$983/month
Average Rent
1 BR
681 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,261/month
Average Rent
2 BR
1,003 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,525/month
Average Rent
3 BR
1,317 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,804/month
Average Rent
How to Find Off-Campus Housing Near the University of Florida
Discover the best ways to find off-campus housing near the University of Florida. Get tips on locations, budgeting, and more on Apartments.com.
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Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly University of Florida - Gainesville, FL (University) is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
Good Public Transit
Transit
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
University of Florida - Gainesville, FL (University) offers all daily essentials, but they’re limited to a few main areas.
Supermarket Within a 10 Minute Walk
Groceries
Good Restaurant Variety Nearby
Restaurants
Fair Café Variety Nearby
Cafes
Fair Variety of Shops Nearby
Shopping
Get a sense of what it’s like to live in University of Florida - Gainesville, FL (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.
Vibrant Atmosphere at Times
Vibrancy
Limited Nightlife Variety Nearby
Nightlife
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1,287 Students
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Grades 9-12
1,873 Students
Professional Academy Magnet At Loften High School
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Grades PK-12
271 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,220 Students
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.
