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Sun City Center

Cost of Living

Sun City Center Cost of Living: Retire in FL (2026)

By Dewey Kopenga and Travis Penny. updated July 2026

TL;DR

Most retired couples in Sun City Center spend $3,800 to $5,500 per month all-in once the home is paid off. This is driven primarily by HOA fees ($25 to $700 per month depending on neighborhood), property taxes (~1.1% of assessed value with Save Our Homes cap), and insurance ($1,800 to $3,800 per year). Florida has no state income tax. Healthcare and groceries track close to the national average.

Typical monthly budget

$3,800 to $5,500

HOA range

$25 to $700 per month

Property tax

~1.1% assessed

State income tax

$0

The short answer

The cost of living in Sun City Center for a retired couple with a paid-off home typically runs $3,800 to $5,500 per month all-in, as of July 2026. The single biggest variable is your neighborhood: a Kings Point villa bundles exterior maintenance, amenities, and often insurance into a condo fee that varies by association (a commonly cited illustrative figure is about $558 per month), while a Sun City Center proper single-family home carries a low HOA of about $25 per month but leaves lawn, roof, and pool costs on you. Property taxes run roughly 1.1 percent of assessed value, softened by Florida's $50,000 homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes 3 percent assessment cap. Florida charges no state income tax on pensions, Social Security, IRA, or 401(k) income, which is the headline reason retirees move here. The costs that surprise newcomers are homeowners insurance, driven by roof age, and summer electric bills from nine months of air conditioning. Groceries and healthcare track close to national averages. The numbers below are real ranges we see with clients, not automated estimates.

Once you have your monthly number, the next question is usually how much of that number you want to pay in a mortgage payment. Many retirees who could pay cash still finance part of the purchase so they keep money accessible. See the honest breakdown in our cash or mortgage guide or run the numbers on the cash vs mortgage calculator.

What does it actually cost per month?

These are real ranges we see with clients, not Zillow estimates. A paid-off 1,500 sq ft villa in Kings Point with a bundled condo fee (illustrative ~$558/mo, varies by association), $2,400/yr taxes, and $2,200/yr insurance lands around $4,200/mo all-in for a couple including groceries, utilities, healthcare premiums, and a modest entertainment budget. A 2,000 sq ft single-family in SCC proper with a $25/mo HOA, $3,800/yr taxes, and $2,800/yr insurance lands closer to $4,800 to $5,200 because you pick up exterior maintenance, lawn, and pool service yourself.

Line-item ranges (couple, paid-off home)

  • ◆HOA / condo fee: $25 to $700 per month (neighborhood-dependent; Kings Point is bundled high; SCC proper sub-HOAs vary wildly)
  • ◆Property taxes: 0.95 to 1.25% of assessed value annually; homestead exemption removes $50K and Save Our Homes caps annual assessment growth at 3%
  • ◆Homeowners insurance: $1,800 to $3,800 per year depending on roof age, build, and flood zone
  • ◆Electric (TECO): $140 to $240 per month year-round, peaks July through September
  • ◆Water/sewer: $60 to $110 per month
  • ◆Internet (Spectrum or Frontier fiber where available): $60 to $90 per month
  • ◆Groceries (couple): $700 to $1,000 per month
  • ◆Healthcare (Medicare + supplement): $400 to $700 per month per person
  • ◆Vehicle / golf cart: $150 to $400 per month (insurance, fuel, maintenance; many couples drop to one car)

What's cheaper than people expect

  • ◆No state income tax means pension, Social Security, and IRA withdrawals are not taxed by Florida
  • ◆Sales tax is 7.5% in Hillsborough County, lower than many Northeast and Midwest markets
  • ◆Vehicle registration is modest and there is no annual state inspection
  • ◆Community amenities are bundled into the HOA, so pools, clubhouses, fitness, and 200+ clubs cost $0 incremental

What's more expensive than people expect

  • ◆Insurance. Florida's market has tightened. Roof age and 4-point inspections matter a lot
  • ◆Cooling: air runs nine months of the year. A poorly insulated home will surprise you in August
  • ◆HOA in Kings Point: bundled fees vary by condo association and included services; confirm the exact schedule for the specific unit
  • ◆Special assessments: older sub-HOAs occasionally levy one-time assessments for roads or amenity refurbishment

Frequently Asked

Questions about cost of living.

As of July 2026, the cheapest path is a paid-off small villa or condo in a low-fee Sun City Center sub-HOA, claimed as your homestead. That combination lands around $3,200 to $3,800 per month all-in for a couple.

Kings Point is more turnkey but the higher condo fee adds $300 to $400 per month over a comparable SCC villa. Renting first for a season is a low-risk way to test a neighborhood's true monthly cost before you commit.

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