Cost of living in West Palm Beach: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in West Palm Beach sits 14.2% above the US average. For 2024, the Miami, FL metro area has a BEA regional price parity (RPP) of 114.2, the US is 100, and housing alone reaches 155.6.
- Overall prices
- 114.2US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 155.6 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for West Palm Beach
A regional price parity measures what one basket of goods and services costs in a place, compared with the US average, which is set at 100. The metro area of Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL covers West Palm Beach, and BEA sets prices for that entire area together. The largest difference from the US average is housing (rents). Its index reaches 155.6, or 55.6% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Miami, FL metro | Florida | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 114.2 | 103.4 | +14.2% |
| Goods | 103.6 | 98.1 | +3.6% |
| Housing (rents) | 155.6 | 122.1 | +55.6% |
| Utilities | 97.2 | 90.1 | −2.8% |
| Other services | 109.1 | 101.3 | +9.1% |
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), 2024: regional price parities by metro and state. BEA regional price parities
Rent prices in West Palm Beach
According to Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), homes currently listed in West Palm Beach have a typical asking rent of $2,365 each month. The figure is +4.2% on a year. Across the US, the figure is $1,932. The Census reports median gross rent of $1,897. This measure includes every renting household, not just new leases. Asking rent for one year equals 38% of median household income.
| Rent | West Palm Beach | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $2,365 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +4.2% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,897 | $1,487 |
| Share of median income, one year of asking rent | 38% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index; Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024. The latter uses one-year estimates.
Prices of homes in West Palm Beach
A typical West Palm Beach home had a value of $404,711 in September 2026 under the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI). The index tracks a typical home's value in the middle of the market. The figure is +2.4% on a year, while the US figure is $366,157. A home costs 5.4 years of median household income there, compared with 4.5 years for the US.
| Home prices | West Palm Beach | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $404,711 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +2.4% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +104.8% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 5.4 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 14.3 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast, and the price chart since 2000: West Palm Beach housing market.
Salary needed for living in West Palm Beach
What salary keeps your current buying power in West Palm Beach? Two things decide it: the place you live, and the amount you earn.
- Moving away from
- Salary
The method, plus the cost of living in every city side by side: city comparison.
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Cost of living in West Palm Beach compared with other cities
| City | Overall prices | Housing | Rent, typical | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach | 114.2 | 155.6 | $2,365 | $404,711 |
| Jacksonville | 99.5 | 109.8 | $1,589 | $284,832 |
| Miami | 114.2 | 155.6 | $2,965 | $583,705 |
| Tampa | 100.9 | 125.8 | $1,930 | $375,619 |
| Orlando | 101.4 | 123.4 | $1,889 | $372,775 |
| St. Petersburg | 100.9 | 125.8 | $2,039 | $351,862 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 114.2 | 155.6 | $2,697 | $509,743 |
| Boca Raton | 114.2 | 155.6 | $2,967 | $580,267 |
| Fort Myers | 102.3 | 125.1 | $1,719 | $304,566 |
BEA regional price parities supply the price levels for 2024, with US = 100. For rent, the source is Zillow ZORI. For home value, the source is Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
The cost of living in every city, ranked: ranked cities. Each state: state cost of living.