CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Fort Lauderdale, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableCO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
FL
Fort Lauderdale
114.2
overall index
$2,650/mo rent

Boulder is moderately cheaper than Fort Lauderdale — 8.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $86,800 in Fort Lauderdale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing0.9%
Boulder
157
Fort Lauderdale
155.6
🛒 Groceries+7.8%
Boulder
96.1
Fort Lauderdale
103.6
🚗 Transportation+9.4%
Boulder
104.8
Fort Lauderdale
114.6
🏥 Healthcare+9.4%
Boulder
94.8
Fort Lauderdale
103.7
Utilities+17.5%
Boulder
82.7
Fort Lauderdale
97.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Boulder to see what you'd need to earn in Fort Lauderdale to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Lauderdale, FL
$86,800
$6,800 more needed in Fort Lauderdale

Formula: salary × (114.2 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 1.0856. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Home Price
$467,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,650
Housing Index
155.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

Boulder has 0.9% lower housing costs compared to Fort Lauderdale.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Household Income
$76,300
Per Capita Income
$43,500
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
182,760
Top Industries
FinanceTourismHealthcareReal EstateMarine

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Fort Lauderdale, FL
2.4×income-to-rent ratio

58% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.