City Comparison

Beaumont vs Fort Lauderdale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Fort Lauderdale

Florida
122
Expensive
$380,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$54,468
Median Income

The Verdict

36.1%

Beaumont is 36.1% less expensive than Fort Lauderdale overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $117,308 in Fort Lauderdale to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
155
Fort Lauderdale
Groceries
96
Beaumont
106
Fort Lauderdale
Utilities
102
Beaumont
96
Fort Lauderdale
Transportation
93
Beaumont
108
Fort Lauderdale
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
99
Fort Lauderdale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $117,308 in Fort Lauderdale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Lauderdale equals $47,951 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Fort Lauderdale

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Fort Lauderdale's 155, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $380,000. The $214,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,908 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale, a monthly difference of $1,000.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 106 in Fort Lauderdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $504/month in Fort Lauderdale. Beaumont offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 96 in Fort Lauderdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $384 in Fort Lauderdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 99 in Fort Lauderdale. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $54,468 in Fort Lauderdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $44,646 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,271/month in Fort Lauderdale. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 74 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 36.1% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $117,308 in Fort Lauderdale, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Fort Lauderdale's is 155 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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