CostIndexUSA

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs San Luis Obispo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Fort Lauderdale
114.2
overall index
$2,650/mo rent
More AffordableCA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent

San Luis Obispo is slightly cheaper than Fort Lauderdale — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $76,100 in San Luis Obispo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.2%
Fort Lauderdale
155.6
San Luis Obispo
144.4
🛒 Groceries+1.5%
Fort Lauderdale
103.6
San Luis Obispo
105.2
🚗 Transportation8.1%
Fort Lauderdale
114.6
San Luis Obispo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare8.1%
Fort Lauderdale
103.7
San Luis Obispo
95.3
Utilities+52.1%
Fort Lauderdale
97.2
San Luis Obispo
147.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Luis Obispo, CA
$76,100
$3,900 less needed in San Luis Obispo

Formula: salary × (108.6 ÷ 114.2) = salary × 0.9510. 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×

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
144.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4×

Fort Lauderdale has 7.2% lower housing costs compared to San Luis Obispo.

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

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Household Income
$90,700
Per Capita Income
$51,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
47,536
Top Industries
EducationTourismAgricultureHealthcareTechnology

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)

San Luis Obispo, CA
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

60% 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.