2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Sumter, SC vs Sarasota, FL

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Sarasota or is it cheaper to live in Sumter?
- Sarasota is 33.0% more expensive than Sumter.

Which city has more affordable housing, Sarasota or Sumter?
- Sarasota housing costs are 129.5% more expensive than Sumter housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Sumter or is Health Care more affordable in Sarasota.
- Health related expenses are 3.1% less in Sarasota.
 Sumter, SCSarasota, FLUnited States
 Overall  Unlock105.3100
 Food & Groceries92.9  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock101.7100
 Housing49.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$454,200$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock90.9100
 Miscellaneous75.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Sumter    11 Reviews

I work in Sumter. I have been thoroughly impressed by the talent that lives in the area. Folks who get it done. In terms of a place to live. Though Sumter has a  More

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Over 7 years ago

About me: I lived in Sumter from birth to around 22 years old. I have since lived in many states, and currently reside in CO, and love it. I prefer towns smaller than  More

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Over 15 years ago

We are a transplanted military family who always intended on retiring in Florida when we retired from the Air Force. We enjoy the small town feeling of Sumter and have  More

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Reviews for Sarasota    105 Reviews

Sarasota is my home from birth but those of us who have lived here long enough to have seen the devolution of what was once an easy to navigate, clean, low crime beach  More

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Starting to love Sarasota: Wife and I moved to Osprey- a small suburb between Sarasota and Venice. We're about 13 miles to downtown Sarasota, so not "city dwellers".   More

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As always, anyone considering moving to anyplace new, including Sarasota, needs to come down and spend a month or two before actually moving here. The city is overrun  More

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