What is the cost of living in Merritt Island, FL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Merritt Island has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Florida, Merritt Island has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Florida's index of 104.
The standard of living in Merritt Island ranks as #304 most affordable out of the 462 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies Merritt Island ranks as the #158 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.
For more reading on life in Merritt Island, check out:
Merritt Island Cost Of Living Vs. Florida
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Merritt Island. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Merritt Island is 102.
The Groceries index in Merritt Island is 101.
The Health index in Merritt Island is 145.
The Housing index in Merritt Island is 105.
The Transportation index in Merritt Island is 113.
The Utilities index in Merritt Island is 105.
| Living Expense | Merritt Island | Florida | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 104 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 145 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 105 | 100 |
Merritt Island 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 Merritt Island Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Merritt Island, 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 Merritt Island is $427,725.
The Median Rent in Merritt Island is $1,441.
The Median Income in Merritt Island is $94,012.
The Home Value To Income in Merritt Island is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Merritt Island is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Merritt Island | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $427,725 | $375,661 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,441 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $94,012 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 5.0x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.27x | 0.21x |
Merritt Island, FL Costs By Category
Detailed Merritt Island Services costs vs. Florida
| Item | Merritt Island | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.54 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.87 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.53 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $55.13 | $45.56 |
Detailed Merritt Island Groceries costs vs. Florida
| Item | Merritt Island | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.23 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.07 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.84 | $3.7 |
Detailed Merritt Island Health costs vs. Florida
| Item | Merritt Island | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $118.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.36 | $113.29 |
Detailed Merritt Island Transportation costs vs. Florida
| Item | Merritt Island | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.39 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.07 | $59.92 |
Detailed Merritt Island Utilities costs vs. Florida
| Item | Merritt Island | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $190.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.67 | $192.25 |
Merritt Island SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Merritt Island
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Merritt Island. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Melbourne, FL has a cost of living index of 106, 0.9x Merritt Island.
Rockledge, FL has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x Merritt Island.
West Melbourne, FL has a cost of living index of 115, 1.0x Merritt Island.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Merritt Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne, FL | 86,576 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Rockledge, FL | 29,133 | 112 | 1.0x |
| West Melbourne, FL | 28,795 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Port St. John, FL | 25,120 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Cocoa, FL | 19,554 | 97 | 0.8x |
| Viera West, FL | 17,984 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Viera East, FL | 12,570 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Cocoa Beach, FL | 11,377 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Satellite Beach, FL | 11,313 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Cape Canaveral, FL | 10,006 | 111 | 1.0x |
