What is the cost of living in Palm Beach, FL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Palm Beach has an overall cost of living index of 229, which is 2.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Florida, Palm Beach has a cost of living index that's 2.2x higher than Florida's index of 104.
The standard of living in Palm Beach ranks as #461 most affordable out of the 462 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies Palm Beach ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.
For more reading on life in Palm Beach, check out:
Palm Beach Cost Of Living Vs. Florida
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palm Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Palm Beach is 103.
The Groceries index in Palm Beach is 104.
The Health index in Palm Beach is 527.
The Housing index in Palm Beach is 104.
The Transportation index in Palm Beach is 111.
The Utilities index in Palm Beach is 108.
| Living Expense | Palm Beach | Florida | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 229 | 104 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 527 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 105 | 100 |
Palm 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 Palm Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Palm 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 Palm Beach is $2,070,045.
The Median Rent in Palm Beach is $2,311.
The Median Income in Palm Beach is $168,403.
The Home Value To Income in Palm Beach is 12.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Palm Beach is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Palm Beach | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,070,045 | $375,661 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,311 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $168,403 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 12.3x | 5.0x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.27x | 0.21x |
Palm Beach, FL Costs By Category
Detailed Palm Beach Services costs vs. Florida
| Item | Palm Beach | 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 Palm Beach Groceries costs vs. Florida
| Item | Palm Beach | 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 Palm Beach Health costs vs. Florida
| Item | Palm Beach | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.16 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $114.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $106.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Palm Beach Transportation costs vs. Florida
| Item | Palm Beach | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.46 | $59.92 |
Detailed Palm Beach Utilities costs vs. Florida
| Item | Palm Beach | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $200.94 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.37 | $192.25 |
Palm Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Palm Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Palm Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Boynton Beach, FL has a cost of living index of 114, 0.5x Palm Beach.
Wellington, FL has a cost of living index of 141, 0.6x Palm Beach.
Jupiter, FL has a cost of living index of 132, 0.6x Palm Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Palm Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boynton Beach, FL | 81,435 | 114 | 0.5x |
| Wellington, FL | 62,146 | 141 | 0.6x |
| Jupiter, FL | 61,883 | 132 | 0.6x |
| Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 60,959 | 138 | 0.6x |
| Greenacres, FL | 44,373 | 107 | 0.5x |
| The Acreage, FL | 40,843 | 129 | 0.6x |
| Royal Palm Beach, FL | 40,344 | 119 | 0.5x |
| Palm Springs, FL | 27,356 | 101 | 0.4x |
| North Palm Beach, FL | 13,238 | 130 | 0.6x |
| Jupiter Farms, FL | 12,945 | 135 | 0.6x |
