What is the cost of living in Fort Walton Beach, FL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Walton Beach has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Florida, Fort Walton Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Florida's index of 104.
The standard of living in Fort Walton Beach ranks as #179 most affordable out of the 462 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies Fort Walton Beach ranks as the #283 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.
For more reading on life in Fort Walton Beach, check out:
Fort Walton Beach Cost Of Living Vs. Florida
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Walton Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Walton Beach is 101.
The Groceries index in Fort Walton Beach is 102.
The Health index in Fort Walton Beach is 113.
The Housing index in Fort Walton Beach is 103.
The Transportation index in Fort Walton Beach is 108.
The Utilities index in Fort Walton Beach is 105.
| Living Expense | Fort Walton Beach | Florida | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 113 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 105 | 100 |
Fort Walton Beach 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 Walton Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Walton Beach, 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 Walton Beach is $324,007.
The Median Rent in Fort Walton Beach is $1,307.
The Median Income in Fort Walton Beach is $68,538.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Walton Beach is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Walton Beach is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Fort Walton Beach | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $324,007 | $375,661 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,307 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $68,538 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 5.0x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.27x | 0.21x |
Fort Walton Beach, FL Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Walton Beach Services costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Walton Beach | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.17 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.99 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.34 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $52.41 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Walton Beach Groceries costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Walton Beach | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.17 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.5 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.2 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.56 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.71 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Walton Beach Health costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Walton Beach | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $107.95 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $106.49 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.85 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Walton Beach Transportation costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Walton Beach | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.2 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $47.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Walton Beach Utilities costs vs. Florida
| Item | Fort Walton Beach | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $142.23 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.01 | $192.25 |
Fort Walton Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Walton Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Walton Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Pensacola, FL has a cost of living index of 107, 1.0x Fort Walton Beach.
Navarre, FL has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Fort Walton Beach.
Ferry Pass, FL has a cost of living index of 101, 0.9x Fort Walton Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Walton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pensacola, FL | 54,036 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Navarre, FL | 39,838 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Ferry Pass, FL | 30,053 | 101 | 0.9x |
| Wright, FL | 27,927 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Bellview, FL | 26,488 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Pace, FL | 26,282 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Niceville, FL | 16,544 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Myrtle Grove, FL | 15,595 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Gonzalez, FL | 14,458 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Destin, FL | 14,077 | 128 | 1.2x |
