Sarasota

The Chariot Sculpture is located in the Ringling Museum courtyard
The Ringlings built their home, the Ca' d'Zan, in 1924

Sarasota, FL Area Guide

Central Florida’s home for high culture

Suburb Beach Coastal Upscale Arts College

Welcome to Sarasota, where coastal beauty meets cultural excellence along Florida's Gulf Coast. This waterfront city offers rental options from downtown apartments to beachfront communities. Current rental trends show average prices ranging from $1,306 for studios to $2,952 for three-bedroom homes, with most areas experiencing modest price adjustments over the past year. The downtown district centers around Main Street and Palm Avenue, while the tree-lined streets of Laurel Park feature historic architecture. Siesta Key and Lido Key complement the mainland with their white-sand beaches and residential communities.

Sarasota's rich cultural heritage shines through the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the historic Sarasota Opera House. The city embraces its circus history as the former winter headquarters of the Ringling Bros. Circus. Nature enthusiasts can explore Marie Selby Botanical Gardens or spend time at numerous public parks and beaches. St. Armands Circle offers shopping and dining options, while the Rosemary District continues to grow with new residential developments. The city is home to several educational institutions, including New College of Florida and Ringling College of Art and Design.

Explore the City

The Chariot Sculpture is located in the Ringling Museum courtyard

The Ringlings built their home, the Ca' d'Zan, in 1924

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Sarasota, FL is $1,309 for a studio, $1,778 for one bedroom, $2,149 for two bedrooms, and $2,734 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Sarasota has decreased by -6.0% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,778/month
752 Sq Ft
House
$4,556/month
1,686 Sq Ft
Condo
$3,884/month
1,191 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,653/month
1,389 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Sarasota, FL

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Sarasota, FL is 4.5% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Sarasota is 13.2% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,309 - $2,734. You can expect to pay 6.9% more for groceries, 4.9% more for utilities, and 2.4% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Sarasota, FL is for everyday living.

Somewhat Walkable

52 / 100

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

Minimal Transit

13 / 100

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

Bikeable

54 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Southside Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Ashton Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Lakeview Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Tatum Ridge Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Sarasota Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Brookside Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Booker Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Riverview High School

Public

Grades PK & 9-12

Sarasota High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Booker High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Sarasota Military Academy

Public

Grades 6-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
  • Sarasota Jungle Gardens
  • Mote Marine Aquarium
  • Phillippi Estate Park
  • Red Bug Slough Preserve

Airports

  • Sarasota/Bradenton International

Top Apartments in Sarasota

Houses for Rent in Sarasota

Property Management Companies in Sarasota, FL

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Methodology

† 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.