What is the cost of living in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Lauderdale has an overall cost of living index of 128, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Florida, Fort Lauderdale has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Florida's index of 104.
The standard of living in Fort Lauderdale ranks as #381 most affordable out of the 462 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies Fort Lauderdale ranks as the #81 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.
For more reading on life in Fort Lauderdale, check out:
Fort Lauderdale Cost Of Living Vs. Florida
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Lauderdale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Lauderdale is 99.
The Groceries index in Fort Lauderdale is 106.
The Health index in Fort Lauderdale is 180.
The Housing index in Fort Lauderdale is 108.
The Transportation index in Fort Lauderdale is 110.
The Utilities index in Fort Lauderdale is 110.
| Living Expense | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 128 | 104 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 180 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 105 | 100 |
Fort Lauderdale Cost Of Living Compared To Florida Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Florida, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Fort Lauderdale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Lauderdale, FL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Florida, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Fort Lauderdale is $508,474.
The Median Rent in Fort Lauderdale is $1,854.
The Median Income in Fort Lauderdale is $83,130.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Lauderdale is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Lauderdale is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $508,474 | $375,661 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,854 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $83,130 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 5.0x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.27x | 0.21x |
Fort Lauderdale, FL Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Lauderdale Services costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Lauderdale | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.42 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.13 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.18 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $73.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Lauderdale Groceries costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Lauderdale | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.79 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.0 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.23 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.5 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Lauderdale Health costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Lauderdale | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.16 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $114.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $106.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Lauderdale Transportation costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Lauderdale | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.46 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Lauderdale Utilities costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Lauderdale | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $200.94 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.37 | $192.25 |
Fort Lauderdale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Lauderdale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Lauderdale. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Pembroke Pines, FL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.0x Fort Lauderdale.
Coral Springs, FL has a cost of living index of 131, 1.0x Fort Lauderdale.
Davie, FL has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Fort Lauderdale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Lauderdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Pines, FL | 173,194 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Coral Springs, FL | 136,103 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Davie, FL | 108,346 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Boca Raton, FL | 100,234 | 148 | 1.2x |
| Weston, FL | 68,837 | 153 | 1.2x |
| Coconut Creek, FL | 58,330 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Oakland Park, FL | 44,682 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Parkland, FL | 37,178 | 172 | 1.3x |
| Lauderdale Lakes, FL | 36,404 | 97 | 0.8x |
| Miami Lakes, FL | 31,553 | 134 | 1.0x |
