City Comparison

Fort Lauderdale vs Hollywood

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Lauderdale

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

Hollywood

Florida
111
Above Average
$424,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$60,300
Median Income

The Verdict

9.9%

Living in Hollywood costs 9.9% less than Fort Lauderdale. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $68,238 in Hollywood.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
155
Fort Lauderdale
130
Hollywood
Groceries
106
Fort Lauderdale
104
Hollywood
Utilities
96
Fort Lauderdale
96
Hollywood
Transportation
108
Fort Lauderdale
113
Hollywood
Healthcare
99
Fort Lauderdale
96
Hollywood

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has the same purchasing power as $68,238 in Hollywood.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hollywood equals $82,432 in Fort Lauderdale.

Living in Fort Lauderdale vs Hollywood

Housing Costs

Fort Lauderdale's housing index of 155 is higher Hollywood's 130, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $424,000. The $44,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale compared to $1,725/mo in Hollywood, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Fort Lauderdale and 104 in Hollywood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Fort Lauderdale vs $494/month in Hollywood. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fort Lauderdale and 96 in Hollywood. 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 $60,300 in Hollywood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,646 and $54,324 respectively. Hollywood 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 $1,407/month in Hollywood. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hollywood, median rent of $1,725/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hollywood is 9.9% more affordable overall with an index of 111 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,238 in Hollywood, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Lauderdale's housing index is 155 with median homes at $380,000, while Hollywood's is 130 with median homes at $424,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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