What is the cost of living in Melbourne, FL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Melbourne has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Florida, Melbourne has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Florida's index of 104.
The standard of living in Melbourne ranks as #167 most affordable out of the 462 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies Melbourne ranks as the #295 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.
For more reading on life in Melbourne, check out:
Melbourne Cost Of Living Vs. Florida
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Melbourne. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Melbourne is 106.
The Groceries index in Melbourne is 108.
The Health index in Melbourne is 106.
The Housing index in Melbourne is 104.
The Transportation index in Melbourne is 112.
The Utilities index in Melbourne is 104.
| Living Expense | Melbourne | Florida | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 104 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 108 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 106 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 112 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 105 | 100 |
Melbourne 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 Melbourne Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Melbourne, 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 Melbourne is $356,353.
The Median Rent in Melbourne is $1,525.
The Median Income in Melbourne is $66,991.
The Home Value To Income in Melbourne is 5.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Melbourne is 0.27x.
Melbourne, FL Costs By Category
Detailed Melbourne Services costs vs. Florida
Detailed Melbourne Groceries costs vs. Florida
Detailed Melbourne Health costs vs. Florida
Detailed Melbourne Transportation costs vs. Florida
Melbourne SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Melbourne
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Melbourne. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Palm Bay, FL has a cost of living index of 104, 1.0x Melbourne.
Merritt Island, FL has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Melbourne.
Rockledge, FL has a cost of living index of 112, 1.1x Melbourne.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Melbourne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay, FL | 130,132 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Merritt Island, FL | 34,992 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Rockledge, FL | 29,133 | 112 | 1.1x |
| West Melbourne, FL | 28,795 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Cocoa, FL | 19,554 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Viera East, FL | 12,570 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Cocoa Beach, FL | 11,377 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Satellite Beach, FL | 11,313 | 125 | 1.2x |
| Indian Harbour Beach, FL | 9,025 | 121 | 1.1x |
| South Patrick Shores, FL | 7,030 | 121 | 1.1x |
