CostIndexUSA

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Pensacola, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Fort Lauderdale
114.2
overall index
$2,650/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Pensacola
97.7
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Pensacola is moderately cheaper than Fort Lauderdale — 14.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $68,400 in Pensacola. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing36.5%
Fort Lauderdale
155.6
Pensacola
98.8
🛒 Groceries7.1%
Fort Lauderdale
103.6
Pensacola
96.2
🚗 Transportation9.4%
Fort Lauderdale
114.6
Pensacola
103.8
🏥 Healthcare9.5%
Fort Lauderdale
103.7
Pensacola
93.9
Utilities9.0%
Fort Lauderdale
97.2
Pensacola
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Pensacola, FL
$68,400
$11,600 less needed in Pensacola

Formula: salary × (97.7 ÷ 114.2) = salary × 0.8555. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Lauderdale, FL

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

Pensacola, FL

Median Home Price
$300,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

Fort Lauderdale has 36.5% lower housing costs compared to Pensacola.

Income & Job Market

Fort Lauderdale, FL

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

Pensacola, FL

Median Household Income
$78,300
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
53,831
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

58% of income left after rent (median)

Pensacola, FL
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.