City Comparison

Fort Lauderdale vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Lauderdale

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

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

60.5%

Living in Peoria costs 60.5% less than Fort Lauderdale. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $46,721 in Peoria.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
155
Fort Lauderdale
42
Peoria
Groceries
106
Fort Lauderdale
97
Peoria
Utilities
96
Fort Lauderdale
103
Peoria
Transportation
108
Fort Lauderdale
108
Peoria
Healthcare
99
Fort Lauderdale
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has the same purchasing power as $46,721 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $120,395 in Fort Lauderdale.

Living in Fort Lauderdale vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Fort Lauderdale's housing index of 155 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $164,000. The $216,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,040 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $1,000.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Fort Lauderdale and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Fort Lauderdale vs $461/month in Peoria. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Fort Lauderdale and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Fort Lauderdale vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fort Lauderdale and 107 in Peoria. 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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,646 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 113 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 60.5% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $46,721 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Lauderdale's housing index is 155 with median homes at $380,000, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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