City Comparison

Fort Lauderdale vs Hampton

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Lauderdale

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

Hampton

Virginia
88
Below Average
$243,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$59,400
Median Income

The Verdict

38.6%

Living in Hampton costs 38.6% less than Fort Lauderdale. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $54,098 in Hampton.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
155
Fort Lauderdale
102
Hampton
Groceries
106
Fort Lauderdale
94
Hampton
Utilities
96
Fort Lauderdale
102
Hampton
Transportation
108
Fort Lauderdale
93
Hampton
Healthcare
99
Fort Lauderdale
106
Hampton

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has the same purchasing power as $54,098 in Hampton.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hampton equals $103,977 in Fort Lauderdale.

Living in Fort Lauderdale vs Hampton

Housing Costs

Fort Lauderdale's housing index of 155 is higher Hampton's 102, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $243,000. The $137,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,904 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale compared to $1,175/mo in Hampton, a monthly difference of $825.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Fort Lauderdale and 94 in Hampton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Fort Lauderdale vs $447/month in Hampton. Hampton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.

Utility Expenses

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fort Lauderdale and 106 in Hampton. 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 $54,468 in Fort Lauderdale and $59,400 in Hampton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,646 and $67,500 respectively. Hampton residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,271/month to housing in Fort Lauderdale vs $1,386/month in Hampton. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hampton, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 53 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hampton is 38.6% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,098 in Hampton, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Lauderdale's housing index is 155 with median homes at $380,000, while Hampton's is 102 with median homes at $243,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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