Fort Lauderdale, FL Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Fort Lauderdale, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Fort Lauderdale →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Fort Lauderdale is a city of roughly 182,673 in Florida. The median household there earns $75,376 annually, which runs roughly in line with the multi-city median income (+5%).
The typical home in Fort Lauderdale is worth $417,600, above the multi-city median (+28%), while the typical renter pays $1,627 a month. Either path — buying or renting — deserves a look at today's rates before deciding.
At roughly 5.5 times median income, Fort Lauderdale's home values rank among the more stretched we track — buying here takes a larger share of local pay. Home prices around Fort Lauderdale have been essentially flat over the past year, up just 0.45%. FEMA rates Fort Lauderdale's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High — worth factoring into home insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,627/mo in Fort Lauderdale would take 25.9% of your income.
$257/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($417,600) would take 35.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$471/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Fort Lauderdale
Median home value is $417,600 and median gross rent is $1,627/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Broward rose 0.45% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,333/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Fort Lauderdale's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Fort Lauderdale reported a violent crime rate of 672.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Fort Lauderdale
Planning a move to Fort Lauderdale? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
- Cost of living in Fort Lauderdale centers on housing: median home value runs $417,600, median rent runs $1,627/month, and the typical household earns $75,376 a year. Data via the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fort Lauderdale?
- A common guideline is that rent should stay under 30% of gross income. With median rent at $1,627/month in Fort Lauderdale, that implies an income of about $65,080 to keep housing affordable. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Fort Lauderdale.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Fort Lauderdale?
- With a median home value of $417,600 and median rent of $1,627/month, renting comfortably in Fort Lauderdale takes about $65,080/year (the 30% guideline), while buying at the median price takes roughly $95,545/year in principal-and-interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates). The right call depends on how long you plan to stay and your down payment.
- Is Fort Lauderdale safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 672.1 per 100,000 residents in Fort Lauderdale.
See the full salary breakdown for Fort Lauderdale →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Fort Lauderdale's.