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 117, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Florida, West Palm Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Florida's index of 104.
The standard of living in West Palm Beach ranks as #314 most affordable out of the 462 places we measured in Florida. By definition, that implies West Palm Beach ranks as the #148 most expensive place in the Sunshine State.
For more reading on life in West Palm Beach, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Palm Beach is 102.
The Groceries index in West Palm Beach is 104.
The Health index in West Palm Beach is 145.
The Housing index in West Palm Beach is 104.
The Transportation index in West Palm Beach is 109.
The Utilities index in West Palm Beach is 108.
| Living Expense | West Palm Beach | Florida | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 117 | 104 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 145 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 105 | 100 |
West 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 West Palm Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in West Palm Beach is $399,471.
The Median Rent in West Palm Beach is $1,772.
The Median Income in West Palm Beach is $73,446.
The Home Value To Income in West Palm Beach is 5.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Palm Beach is 0.29x.
| Statistic | West Palm Beach | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $399,471 | $375,661 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,772 | $1,669 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,446 | $74,568 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.4x | 5.0x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.27x | 0.21x |
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
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 114, 1.0x West Palm Beach.
Wellington, FL has a cost of living index of 141, 1.2x West Palm Beach.
Jupiter, FL has a cost of living index of 132, 1.1x West Palm Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Palm Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boynton Beach, FL | 81,435 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Wellington, FL | 62,146 | 141 | 1.2x |
| Jupiter, FL | 61,883 | 132 | 1.1x |
| Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 60,959 | 138 | 1.2x |
| Greenacres, FL | 44,373 | 107 | 0.9x |
| The Acreage, FL | 40,843 | 129 | 1.1x |
| Royal Palm Beach, FL | 40,344 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Riviera Beach, FL | 38,657 | 110 | 0.9x |
| North Palm Beach, FL | 13,238 | 130 | 1.1x |
| Jupiter Farms, FL | 12,945 | 135 | 1.2x |
