Monthly housing costs in Fort Lauderdale
| Cost | Monthly | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical rent | $2,736 | Zillow Observed Rent Index, August 2026 |
| Mortgage, 10% down | $3,072 | Principal and interest on $460,300, 30 years at 7.03% |
| Mortgage, 20% down | $2,731 | Principal and interest on $409,200, 30 years at 7.03% |
Typical home value $511,500 (Zillow, August 2026). Rate: Freddie Mac 30-year average, week of September 24, 2026. Taxes, insurance and HOA/CDD fees are extra and covered below.
How expensive is Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale is expensive by Florida standards. Zillow's typical home value of $511,473 in August 2026 was about 36% above the statewide figure of $375,470, and the typical rent was $2,736 a month. It is cheaper than Miami and Boca Raton, but more expensive than West Palm Beach and most of western Broward.
MIT's Living Wage Calculator, updated February 2026, estimates that a single adult in Broward County needs $52,832 a year before tax to cover basic costs, and a two-earner household with two children $117,358. Those budgets assume modest housing; at Zillow's typical rent, most renters need more. The tables below and on the rest of this page show where the money goes.
Housing costs in Fort Lauderdale
Buying a home
The table above shows principal and interest on the typical home: about $3,072 a month with 10% down and $2,731 with 20% down, at the Freddie Mac rate of 7.03% for the week of September 24, 2026. Property tax, insurance and any HOA fee come on top. By ZIP code, typical values run from $365,913 in 33311 to $863,144 in 33301, so the same budget buys very different homes across the city.
Renting
Zillow's typical rent of $2,736 was up 2.5% on a year earlier. The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the median gross rent actually paid in the city lower, at $1,953, because it includes long-running leases and older units. New leases are closer to the Zillow figure.
Property tax
The 2025 millage in the main City of Fort Lauderdale district was 18.4464. On the typical value of $511,473, that is about $8,666 a year with homestead and $9,435 without, before flat charges such as the fire assessment and a stormwater fee of $318.17. The Census Bureau puts the median tax actually paid by city homeowners at $6,001, lower because long-time owners are protected by Save Our Homes. Our Broward County property tax guide shows the full calculation.
Homeowners and flood insurance
Insurance is the cost that varies most from home to home, with age, roof, windows, elevation and flood zone all counting. The city says a majority of residents live in or near a FEMA special flood hazard area, and its Community Rating System participation gives residents a 20% discount on flood premiums. Get quotes on the specific address before you make an offer, and read our Florida homeowners insurance guide.
HOA, condo and CDD fees
About 28,000 of the city's homes are condos, and association fees there cover building insurance, maintenance and reserves. State rules on milestone inspections and reserve funding apply to many older buildings, as our Florida condo law guide explains, so ask for the budget, reserve study and any special assessments. CDDs are uncommon inside the city, but some newer communities elsewhere in Broward, such as Solterra in Sunrise, charged up to $2,547.10 a unit in 2025.
Everyday costs in Fort Lauderdale
Electricity
Florida Power & Light serves Fort Lauderdale. FPL puts the typical residential bill for 1,000 kWh at $136.64 in August 2026, falling to $128.45 in September because of a one-month storm cost refund. Check your own use: a bill scales with kilowatt-hours, so ask a seller or landlord for the last 12 months of FPL bills.
Water, sewer and trash
The City of Fort Lauderdale raised water and wastewater rates 9% from October 1, 2025. The city's example for 5,000 gallons a month on a standard meter is $49.88 for water and $66.91 for sewer, $116.79 in total. Single-family sanitation for one cart is $52.49 on the city's FY2026 rate schedule, up 5%. Since March 1, 2026 only property owners can open a new utility account.
Groceries and food
MIT's food budget for Broward is $4,744 a year for one adult and $13,883 for two adults with two children, about $395 and $1,157 a month.
Transportation and gas
MIT budgets $7,728 a year for transportation for a single adult. Most households need a car; city workers averaged about 25 minutes each way to work in the Census Bureau's 2024 survey. For trips to the airport, Brightline's shuttle from its downtown station costs $12 plus a $3 fuel surcharge.
Healthcare
MIT's medical budget, which covers premiums and out-of-pocket costs, is $2,719 a year for a single adult and $9,128 for a family of four with two workers. Broward Health Medical Center, the city's largest hospital, has 606 beds and a Level I trauma center.
Childcare
MIT estimates $11,352 a year for one child and $22,107 for two in Broward, the largest single cost after housing for many households with children.
Internet and phone
MIT budgets $2,036 a year for internet and mobile for one adult and $2,609 for two adults, about $170 to $217 a month.
Taxes in Fort Lauderdale
Sales tax: 7%
Florida's 6% state sales tax plus Broward County's 1% surtax, which the Department of Revenue lists as effective from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2048. On a $2,000 purchase the tax is $140.
No state income tax
Florida does not tax personal income. MIT's annual tax estimates for Broward, $8,005 for a single adult on its living-wage budget, are federal income and payroll taxes.
Property tax discounts and timing
Broward bills are mailed November 1. Paying in November saves 4%, and the tax collector's installment plan saves an average of 3.5% if you enroll by April 30.
Salary needed to live in Fort Lauderdale
MIT's living wage is the income needed to cover basic needs with no savings. Figures are before tax, for Broward County:
| Household | Hourly wage | Annual income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | $25.40 | $52,832 |
| 1 adult, 1 child | $42.17 | $87,716 |
| 1 adult, 2 children | $53.05 | $110,348 |
| 2 adults, both working | $16.75 each | $69,691 |
| 2 adults, both working, 1 child | $23.73 each | $98,729 |
| 2 adults, both working, 2 children | $28.21 each | $117,358 |
By comparison, the Census Bureau's 2024 median household income in the city was $90,734. At that income, Zillow's typical rent takes about 36% of pre-tax pay. To keep rent at 30% of income, you would need about $109,000 a year, and to keep the typical home's principal, interest and tax under 30%, well over $150,000.
What is a livable salary in Fort Lauderdale?
For one person, MIT's $52,832 covers basic costs at modest housing. To rent alone at typical rents, plan on at least $90,000 to $110,000 a year, or share.
Fort Lauderdale vs nearby cities
Zillow's August 2026 figures for Fort Lauderdale and nearby cities, with each city's 2025 total property tax millage in its main district:
| City | Typical home value | 1-year change | Typical rent | 2025 millage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $511,473 | -1.3% | $2,736 | 18.4464 |
| Hollywood | $444,268 | -2.3% | $2,341 | 22.0571 (north) / 20.8985 (south) |
| Pompano Beach | $351,953 | -1.9% | $2,355 | 20.2573 |
| Wilton Manors | $579,530 | +0.3% | $2,214 | 20.4896 |
| Boca Raton | $576,824 | +3.7% | $2,949 | Palm Beach County |
| West Palm Beach | $404,294 | +1.4% | $2,377 | Palm Beach County |
| Miami | $580,866 | +0.8% | $3,008 | Miami-Dade County |
Fort Lauderdale's total millage is lower than most Broward cities', and the city's own operating rate has stayed at 4.1193 mills since at least 2021. Only a handful of Broward millage codes, such as Weston, Southwest Ranches and Hillsboro Beach, were lower in 2025. That offsets some of the higher price. Weigh commute and flood zone as well as price.
Ways to lower your costs in Fort Lauderdale
File for homestead
If the home is your permanent residence on January 1, file with the Broward County Property Appraiser by March 1. The exemption is up to $51,411 for 2026 and caps future assessment increases. See the homestead exemption guide.
Get a wind mitigation inspection
A wind mitigation report documents features such as roof attachment and opening protection that insurers discount. The state's My Safe Florida Home program offers free inspections and grants of up to $10,000 for eligible upgrades.
Use the flood insurance discount
Fort Lauderdale's Community Rating System class gives residents a 20% discount on National Flood Insurance Program premiums. The city can provide copies of elevation certificates it holds; ask your insurance agent how the certificate affects the quote.
Pay property tax in November
The 4% early payment discount is worth about $347 on an $8,666 bill.
Consider nearby cities
Oakland Park and Pompano Beach had typical values under $370,000 in August 2026. Compare commute costs before you decide. For a wider view of living here, see is Fort Lauderdale a good place to live.
Common questions
How much does it cost to live in Fort Lauderdale?+
MIT estimates a single adult in Broward needs $52,832 a year before tax for basic costs, and a family of four with two earners $117,358. Housing is the biggest cost: Zillow's typical rent was $2,736 a month in August 2026, and principal and interest on the typical $511,473 home are about $3,072 with 10% down.
Is Fort Lauderdale an expensive place to live?+
Yes, compared with most of Florida. Zillow's typical home value was $511,473, about 36% above the state figure of $375,470, and typical rent was $2,736. It is cheaper than Miami and Boca Raton, and its property tax rate of 18.4464 mills is among the lowest of Broward's cities.
Which is cheaper, Miami or Fort Lauderdale?+
Fort Lauderdale, on Zillow's August 2026 figures: a typical home value of $511,473 against $580,866 in Miami, and typical rent of $2,736 against $3,008. Insurance and property tax depend on the specific address in both cities.
What is a livable salary in Fort Lauderdale?+
MIT puts the living wage for a single adult in Broward at $25.40 an hour, or $52,832 a year before tax. That covers basic costs at modest housing. To rent alone at the typical $2,736 and keep rent under 30% of income, you would need about $109,000.
Can I live in Florida on $1,500 a month?+
Not in Fort Lauderdale. The typical rent alone was $2,736 in August 2026, and MIT's basic budget for a single adult in Broward is about $3,736 a month after tax. Lower costs are possible only in shared housing or in cheaper parts of the state.
How much is the electric bill in Fort Lauderdale?+
FPL, which serves the city, puts the typical bill for 1,000 kWh of residential use at $136.64 in August 2026 and $128.45 in September, when a one-time storm cost refund applied. Your bill depends on how many kilowatt-hours you use.
What is the sales tax in Fort Lauderdale?+
7%: Florida's 6% state rate plus Broward County's 1% discretionary surtax, which runs from 2019 to 2048. Florida has no state income tax.
Sources
- Zillow Research: Home Value Index and Observed Rent Index
- Freddie Mac: Primary Mortgage Market Survey
- MIT Living Wage Calculator: Broward County, Florida
- Census Reporter API: B25064 median gross rent, ACS 2024 1-year
- Census Reporter API: B25103 median real estate taxes, ACS 2024 1-year
- Census Reporter API: B19013 median household income, ACS 2024 1-year
- Broward County Property Appraiser: 2025 Final Millage Rates (archived copy)
- Broward County Property Appraiser: 2025 Final Non-Ad Valorem Recap (archived copy)
- Broward County Property Appraiser: 2025 July average and median values of condominiums (archived copy)
- FPL: Rates and bill components
- City of Fort Lauderdale: New utility rates effective October 1, 2025
- City of Fort Lauderdale: Sanitation rates FY2025 to FY2030
- City of Fort Lauderdale: Utility Billing and Collections
- City of Fort Lauderdale: Flood and flood insurance
- Florida Department of Revenue: Discretionary Sales Surtax Information (DR-15DSS)
- Florida Department of Revenue: Additional Homestead Exemption Adjustment
- Broward County Tax Collector: Property tax
- My Safe Florida Home
- Brightline: Fort Lauderdale station
- Broward Health Medical Center