Cost of Living in Venice, FL: Housing, Taxes and Bills

Monthly housing costs in Venice

Cost	Monthly	Basis
Typical rent	$2,147	Zillow Observed Rent Index, August 2026
Mortgage, 10% down	$2,265	Principal and interest on $339,500, 30 years at 7.03%
Mortgage, 20% down	$2,014	Principal and interest on $301,800, 30 years at 7.03%

Typical home value $377,200 (Zillow, August 2026). Rate: Freddie Mac 30-year average, week of September 24, 2026. Taxes, insurance and HOA/CDD fees are extra and covered below.

How expensive is Venice?

Venice costs a little less than Sarasota to buy or rent in and more than Bradenton or Port Charlotte. Housing is the gap. The other lines of a household budget are close to Florida and US averages.

Measure	Venice	Comparison
Zillow typical home value, Aug 2026	$377,207	Sarasota $409,878; Bradenton $352,501
Zillow typical rent, Aug 2026	$2,147	Sarasota $2,175; Bradenton $1,782
Median household income (ACS 2020 to 2024)	$76,755 (city)	Sarasota County $83,416
MIT living wage, 1 adult, pre-tax	$50,015 (Sarasota County)	Florida minimum wage $14.00/hour
Regular gas, AAA, Sept 25, 2026	$4.45 (Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice)	Florida $4.42; US $4.49
Total property tax rate, 2025 roll	14.9292 mills (city)	11.4737 unincorporated county

Is Venice, Florida more expensive to live in?

Than most of Florida, yes, mainly because of housing. Than Sarasota, slightly less: the typical Venice home is $32,671 cheaper and typical rent is $28 a month lower. Inside city limits your property tax rate is higher than in unincorporated Sarasota County, which offsets some of that saving for owners. Venice's median household income of $76,755 is below the county's, so rent takes about 34% of a median household's gross income here.

Housing costs in Venice

The table at the top of this page shows typical rent and the monthly principal and interest at 10% and 20% down. These subsections cover the rest of the cost of a home.

Buying a home

Zillow's typical Venice value was $377,207 in August 2026, down 3.9% in a year and up 5.3% over five years. At the 7.03% Freddie Mac average rate, principal and interest come to about $2,265 a month with 10% down and $2,014 with 20% down. ZIP 34293 had the lowest typical value of the three Venice ZIPs at $364,664 and 34292 the highest at $394,439. Inside the city, Zillow's Gateway/Waterway neighborhood was $216,417 and The Island $514,173. The Venice housing market page tracks the trend.

Renting

Typical rent was $2,147 a month, up 0.5% on the year, so rents have held while prices fell. That is $25,764 a year. To keep rent at 30% of gross income you would need to earn about $85,880. The Census survey puts median gross rent in the city lower, at $1,606, because it counts all existing leases rather than homes now on the market, and only about 20% of occupied homes in the city are rented.

Property tax

Venice owners pay one of two rates depending on where the parcel sits. Inside the City of Venice, the 2025 total was 14.9292 mills: 6.0950 for schools and 8.8342 for county, city and other levies. Unincorporated Sarasota County was 11.4737. On the typical $377,207 value with a standard homestead exemption, that works out to roughly $5,037 a year inside the city and $3,907 outside, before non-ad valorem charges. A new buyer is taxed on the purchase price, not the seller's capped value. The Sarasota County property tax guide walks through a real bill.

Homeowners insurance

Insurance is the line newcomers most often underestimate. Hurricane Milton made landfall on Siesta Key in October 2024, and the National Hurricane Center measured the worst surge, 6 to 9 feet, from Venice to Boca Grande. Roof age, construction, opening protection and elevation all move the price. No official source publishes a Venice average, so ask the seller for their current declarations page and get your own quotes before your inspection period ends. Our Florida homeowners insurance guide explains the market.

Flood insurance

Standard homeowners policies exclude flood. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices each NFIP policy on the property's own risk, and most rates cannot rise more than 18% a year. A lender requires flood cover in a high-risk zone, and you can buy it anywhere. Look up the address on FEMA's flood map and ask for the elevation certificate. See our flood zone guide.

HOA, condo and CDD fees

If the home is in an HOA or condo association you pay a monthly or quarterly fee, and some newer communities can also carry a district assessment on the tax bill. Builder sites rarely publish those fees; M/I Homes' Vistera of Venice page, for example, lists homes from $479,990 but no fee. Ask for the HOA budget and the current tax bill for the exact parcel. Florida law requires a bold CDD disclosure on new-home contracts, which our CDD guide explains.

City of Venice or unincorporated: the cost difference

A Venice mailing address does not mean the City of Venice. The 2020 Census ZIP-to-city file shows about 76% of ZIP 34285 is inside city limits, but only about 8% of 34292 and under 1% of 34293.

What the rate difference is worth

The 2025 city rate was about 3.46 mills higher than the unincorporated rate. That is about $346 a year for each $100,000 of taxable value, or roughly $1,100 a year on the typical home after a homestead exemption. City parcels do not pay the county's 0.7300 EMS levy, but the city's own 4.1855-mill levy more than makes up the difference.

Utilities inside and outside the city

The City of Venice runs its own water and sewer utility and bills trash on the same account. It publishes current rates and a bill calculator on its website. Outside city limits, your water and sewer may come from Sarasota County or another provider. Ask the seller or landlord for the last few utility bills either way.

How to check an address

Search the parcel on the Sarasota County Property Appraiser's site and read the taxing district, or look at the last tax bill. Our Venice hub lists which ZIP codes reach into the city.

Everyday costs in Venice

Electricity

Confirm the provider on the seller's or landlord's bill. If it is FPL, its October 2026 residential rate sheet works out to about $133 for 1,000 kWh before taxes and fees, and FPL listed a typical August 2026 bill of $136.64. Summer air conditioning often pushes use above 1,000 kWh.

Water, sewer and trash

Inside the city, the City of Venice sets water and sewer rates and adds solid waste to the same bill. Its online calculator estimates a bill from your meter size and gallons used. Budget from the actual bills for the home you pick, since usage for irrigation and pools varies widely.

Groceries and food

MIT's 2026 estimate for Sarasota County puts food at $4,989 a year for one adult, about $416 a month, assuming home cooking. Eating out adds to that.

Transportation and gas

Most households need a car. Venice sits on US 41 and I-75. AAA's average for regular gas in the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice area was $4.45 a gallon on September 25, 2026. MIT budgets $8,333 a year for one adult's transportation in Sarasota County. The paved Legacy Trail, which runs 18.5 miles between Venice and Sarasota, covers some trips by bike. Venice Municipal Airport is used mainly by private and charter aircraft.

Healthcare

MIT's medical estimate, covering premiums and out-of-pocket costs, is $2,977 a year for one adult in Sarasota County. Sarasota Memorial opened a full hospital campus in Venice in 2021, so you do not need to drive to Sarasota for hospital care.

Childcare

MIT puts childcare in Sarasota County at $11,523 a year for one child. For households with young children it can rival rent.

Internet and phone

MIT budgets $1,710 a year for internet and mobile service for one adult in Sarasota County, about $143 a month. Check provider choice for the exact address on the FCC National Broadband Map.

A monthly budget for Venice

Here is a sample monthly budget for one adult, built from the figures above. Utilities other than electricity, insurance and any HOA fee depend on the home, so add your own quotes.

Line	Renting the typical home	Buying with 10% down
Rent or principal and interest	$2,147	$2,265
Property tax (city parcel, homestead, typical value)	n/a	about $420
Electricity, 1,000 kWh (FPL rate sheet)	about $133	about $133
Food (MIT)	$416	$416
Transportation (MIT)	$694	$694
Healthcare (MIT)	$248	$248
Internet and phone (MIT)	$143	$143
Subtotal before water, insurance and fees	about $3,781	about $4,319

What the budget shows

A single adult renting the typical Venice home needs about $3,781 a month, or about $45,372 a year after tax, before water, sewer, renter's insurance and anything discretionary. That is why MIT's $50,015 pre-tax living wage, which assumes cheaper housing, is a floor rather than a comfortable target here. Buying adds property tax, homeowners and flood insurance and maintenance on top of a payment that is already higher than rent. Outside city limits the tax line falls to about $326 a month on the same home.

One-time costs when you arrive

Plan for a security deposit and first month's rent if you lease, or closing costs if you buy. Our Florida closing costs guide lists the buyer's side, including title insurance and mortgage taxes. Utility deposits vary by provider, so ask when you open each account.

Taxes in Venice

Sales tax: 7%

Florida's 6% state rate plus Sarasota County's 1% discretionary surtax, which runs through 2039 on the Department of Revenue's 2026 rate table.

No state income tax

Florida does not tax wages, pensions, Social Security or retirement account withdrawals, which is a real saving if you move from a state that does.

Property tax and the November 2026 vote

The city rate of 14.9292 mills applies inside Venice and 11.4737 in unincorporated areas, before special districts. Amendment 3 on the November 2026 ballot would raise the non-school homestead exemption and cut the yearly cap on non-homestead assessments. It needs 60% of voters to pass, and school taxes would not change, so budget on current rules until the result is known. Bills paid in November get a 4% discount.

Salary needed to live in Venice

MIT's Living Wage Calculator, updated in February 2026, estimates the pre-tax income a household needs to cover basic costs in Sarasota County.

Household	Hourly living wage	Annual pre-tax income
1 adult, no children	$24.05	$50,015
1 adult, 1 child	$41.33	$85,960
1 adult, 2 children	$52.46	$109,107
2 adults (1 working), no children	$33.44	$69,547
2 adults (both working), 2 children	$28.08 each	$116,814

How much do you need to make to live in Venice?

About $50,000 before tax for one adult on MIT's basic budget, but that assumes cheaper housing than the typical Venice rental. Here is the share of gross income that typical rent ($2,147) and the 10%-down principal and interest ($2,265) take:

Gross income	Typical rent	Mortgage P&I, 10% down
$50,000	52%	54%
$75,000	34%	36%
$100,000	26%	27%
$150,000	17%	18%

At $100,000 renting the typical home is manageable. Buying at that income leaves little room once property tax, insurance and fees are added to principal and interest.

What do jobs in the area pay?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics put the May 2025 annual mean wage in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metro at $62,500 and the median at $47,440. The median worker is below MIT's single-adult living wage, so many households rely on two incomes, savings or retirement income.

Venice vs nearby cities

City	Zillow typical value, Aug 2026	1-year change	Typical rent	P&I, 10% down
Venice	$377,207	-3.9%	$2,147	$2,265
Sarasota	$409,878	-2.7%	$2,175	$2,462
Bradenton	$352,501	-3.2%	$1,782	$2,117
Lakewood Ranch	$585,199	-3.7%	$2,355	$3,515
Port Charlotte	$267,275	-4.6%	$1,770	$1,605

Cheaper and pricier options nearby

Port Charlotte, about $110,000 cheaper to buy, is the lower-cost choice to the south, though it is in Charlotte County with its own tax rates. Bradenton rents are $365 a month lower than Venice's. Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch cost more to buy, and Lakewood Ranch's typical value is about $208,000 higher. Our Sarasota vs Bradenton guide compares the two larger cities in detail.

Ways to lower your costs in Venice

File for homestead

If the home is your permanent residence, file with the Sarasota County Property Appraiser by March 1 of the year after you buy. The exemption lowers taxable value and caps yearly increases in assessed value. Our homestead exemption guide has the details.

Check the senior exemption

The City of Venice grants a $50,000 limited-income senior exemption from city taxes, on top of $5,000 off county taxes, for qualifying owners. The 2026 household adjusted gross income limit is $38,686.

Get a wind mitigation inspection

Roof-to-wall connections, impact windows and roof shape can earn windstorm discounts. The state's My Safe Florida Home program offers free inspections and grants for eligible upgrades. See our wind mitigation guide.

Compare city and county addresses

With the same price and house, an unincorporated parcel pays a lower millage than a city parcel. Weigh that against the services and utility rates on each side.

Pay property tax in November

Sarasota County gives a 4% discount for paying in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February.

Common questions

How much do you need to make to live in Venice, FL?+

MIT's living wage for one adult in Sarasota County is $50,015 a year before tax, and $116,814 for two working adults with two children. To keep Venice's typical rent of $2,147 at 30% of gross income, you would need about $85,880 a year.

Is Venice cheaper than Sarasota?+

Slightly. Zillow's typical Venice home value was $377,207 in August 2026 against $409,878 in Sarasota, and typical rent was $2,147 against $2,175. Inside city limits the two cities' 2025 tax rates are close: 14.9292 mills in Venice and 14.8815 in the City of Sarasota.

What is the property tax rate in Venice, FL?+

On the 2025 Sarasota County roll, the City of Venice total was 14.9292 mills, or about $1,493 per $100,000 of taxable value. Unincorporated addresses with a Venice mailing address paid 11.4737 mills. Special districts and non-ad valorem charges can add to either.

What is the average rent in Venice, Florida?+

Zillow's typical rent in Venice was $2,147 a month in August 2026, up 0.5% in a year. The Census survey's median gross rent for the city is lower, $1,606, because it includes older leases rather than only homes now listed for rent.

How much is homeowners insurance in Venice, FL?+

There is no official Venice average. Premiums depend on roof age, construction, opening protection, elevation and distance to water Hurricane Milton made landfall just north of Venice in 2024. Get written quotes during your inspection period and ask the seller for their current premium.

Does Venice, Florida have a state income tax?+

No. Florida has no state income tax on wages, pensions or retirement withdrawals. You pay 7% sales tax in Sarasota County, 6% state plus a 1% county surtax, and property tax if you own a home.

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