City Comparison

Fort Lauderdale vs Kenosha

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Lauderdale

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

Kenosha

Wisconsin
91
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$68,900
Median Income

The Verdict

34.1%

Living in Kenosha costs 34.1% less than Fort Lauderdale. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $55,943 in Kenosha.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
155
Fort Lauderdale
82
Kenosha
Groceries
106
Fort Lauderdale
99
Kenosha
Utilities
96
Fort Lauderdale
95
Kenosha
Transportation
108
Fort Lauderdale
103
Kenosha
Healthcare
99
Fort Lauderdale
96
Kenosha

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has the same purchasing power as $55,943 in Kenosha.

Conversely, $75,000 in Kenosha equals $100,549 in Fort Lauderdale.

Living in Fort Lauderdale vs Kenosha

Housing Costs

Fort Lauderdale's housing index of 155 is higher Kenosha's 82, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $275,000. The $105,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,828 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale compared to $1,250/mo in Kenosha, a monthly difference of $750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Fort Lauderdale and 99 in Kenosha. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Fort Lauderdale vs $470/month in Kenosha. Kenosha offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $408/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Fort Lauderdale and 95 in Kenosha. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Fort Lauderdale vs $380 in Kenosha. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fort Lauderdale and 96 in Kenosha. 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 $68,900 in Kenosha. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,646 and $75,714 respectively. Kenosha 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 $1,608/month in Kenosha. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 73 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kenosha is 34.1% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $55,943 in Kenosha, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Lauderdale's housing index is 155 with median homes at $380,000, while Kenosha's is 82 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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