| Measure | Fort LauderdaleFlorida, United States Remove Fort Lauderdale | LakelandFlorida, United States Remove Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||
| Overall score | 6.6 | 6.9 |
| Connector Score | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Safety | 5.0 | 7.0 |
| Affordability | 4.5 | 6.7 |
| Transportation | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Walkability | 5.1 | 7.1 |
| Things to do | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Food & dining | 5.9 | 5.5 |
| Places to stay | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| Nature & outdoors | 7.0 | 5.5 |
| Scenic value | 7.3 | 6.3 |
| Family friendliness | 5.5 | 5.4 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 4.9 | 6.3 |
| Nightlife | 4.9 | 3.6 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 5.5 | 5.7 |
| Road-trip convenience | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Train-trip convenience | 6.9 | 8.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 7.3 | 7.3 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||
| Budget | $170 | $103 |
| Mid-range | $275 | $153 |
| Luxury | $585 | $263 |
| Living there | ||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 120 | 98 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $1,850 | $1,375 |
| Population | 189K | 126K |
| Getting there | ||
| Accessible by | Drive Train Bus Airport | Drive Train Bus Airport |
| Car recommended | — | — |
| Travel time from Fort Lauderdale | — | 4 h 6 min details |
| Character | ||
| Best for | Car-free travel, Beaches | Car-free travel, History |
| Known for | Beaches, National & state parks, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Live music, Shopping | National & state parks, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Pro sports, Shopping |
| When to go | Peak: December through April | Peak: Spring training and Sun 'n Fun |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.