City Comparison

Fort Lauderdale vs St George

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Lauderdale

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

St George

Utah
110
Above Average
$550,000
Median Home
$1,525/mo
Median Rent
$72,400
Median Income

The Verdict

10.9%

Living in St George costs 10.9% less than Fort Lauderdale. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale, you would need $67,623 in St George.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
155
Fort Lauderdale
144
St George
Groceries
106
Fort Lauderdale
100
St George
Utilities
96
Fort Lauderdale
87
St George
Transportation
108
Fort Lauderdale
104
St George
Healthcare
99
Fort Lauderdale
96
St George

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has the same purchasing power as $67,623 in St George.

Conversely, $75,000 in St George equals $83,182 in Fort Lauderdale.

Living in Fort Lauderdale vs St George

Housing Costs

Fort Lauderdale's housing index of 155 is higher St George's 144, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $550,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale compared to $1,525/mo in St George, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Fort Lauderdale and 100 in St George. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Fort Lauderdale vs $475/month in St George. St George offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Fort Lauderdale and 87 in St George. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Fort Lauderdale vs $348 in St George. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fort Lauderdale and 96 in St George. 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 $72,400 in St George. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,646 and $65,818 respectively. St George 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 $1,689/month in St George. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In St George, median rent of $1,525/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St George is 10.9% more affordable overall with an index of 110 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,623 in St George, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Lauderdale's housing index is 155 with median homes at $380,000, while St George's is 144 with median homes at $550,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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