West Palm Beach, FL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In West Palm Beach, FL Summary

Cost of living in West Palm Beach research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means West Palm Beach is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Florida, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in West Palm Beach is 113, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in West Palm Beach is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • West Palm Beach ranks as the #309 cheapest in Florida out of 459.

  • West Palm Beach ranks as the #3,948 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in West Palm Beach is $391,080.

  • The median income in West Palm Beach is $69,261.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
113
West Palm Beach's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in West Palm Beach, FL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Palm Beach has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Florida, West Palm Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Florida's index of 97.

The standard of living in West Palm Beach ranks as #309 most affordable out of the 459 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies West Palm Beach ranks as the #150 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.

For more reading on life in West Palm Beach, check out:

309 out of 459
In Florida
3,948 out of 6,489
In America

West Palm Beach Cost Of Living Vs. Florida

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Palm Beach. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in West Palm Beach is 106.

  • The Groceries index in West Palm Beach is 103.

  • The Health index in West Palm Beach is 95.

  • The Housing index in West Palm Beach is 141.

  • The Transportation index in West Palm Beach is 102.

  • The Utilities index in West Palm Beach is 104.

Living Expense West Palm Beach Florida National Average
Overall 113 97 100
Services 106 96 100
Groceries 103 99 100
Health 95 98 100
Housing 141 96 100
Transportation 102 97 100
Utilities 104 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around Florida, check out:
West Palm Beach Cost of Living Vs. FL

West 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in West Palm Beach is $391,080.

  • The Median Rent in West Palm Beach is $1,709.

  • The Median Income in West Palm Beach is $69,261.

  • The Home Value To Income in West Palm Beach is 5.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in West Palm Beach is 0.3x.

Statistic West Palm Beach Florida United States
Median Home Value $391,080 $377,066 $303,400
Median Rent $1,709 $1,564 $1,348
Median Income $69,261 $71,711 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.6x 5.3x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.3x 0.26x 0.21x
$391,080
Median Home Value
$1,709
Median Rent
$69,261
Median Income

West Palm Beach, FL Costs By Category

Detailed West Palm Beach Services Costs Vs. Florida

Item West 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 West Palm Beach Groceries Costs Vs. Florida

Item West 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 West Palm Beach Health Costs Vs. Florida

Item West Palm Beach Florida
Optometrist $113.16 $125.68
Doctor $114.67 $135.78
Dentist $106.72 $113.29

Detailed West Palm Beach Transportation Costs Vs. Florida

Item West Palm Beach Florida
Gasoline $3.43 $3.46
Tire Balancing $63.46 $59.92

Detailed West Palm Beach Utilities Costs Vs. Florida

Item West Palm Beach Florida
All Electricity $200.94 $193.99
Phone $194.37 $192.25

West Palm Beach SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
3
Diversity
10
Safety
3
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Palm Beach

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West 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 111, 1.0x West Palm Beach.

  • Wellington, FL has a cost of living index of 137, 1.2x West Palm Beach.

  • Jupiter, FL has a cost of living index of 130, 1.2x West Palm Beach.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. West Palm Beach
Boynton Beach, FL 80,601 111 1.0x
Wellington, FL 61,497 137 1.2x
Jupiter, FL 61,097 130 1.2x
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 59,751 132 1.2x
Greenacres, FL 43,871 104 0.9x
The Acreage, FL 40,188 128 1.1x
Royal Palm Beach, FL 39,089 121 1.1x
Riviera Beach, FL 38,032 106 0.9x
Jupiter Farms, FL 13,394 127 1.1x
North Palm Beach, FL 13,089 128 1.1x

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