Last updated November 4, 2026

Cost of Living in South Florida: Monthly Cost to Own by City

Owning the median single-family home costs from about $3,870 a month in Lantana to about $10,787 a month in Lighthouse Point across 14 Palm Beach County and 8 Broward County cities in 2026, before the cash-dominated coastal markets. Same method everywhere: median closed price, 20% down at 7.3%, homestead property tax at the 2025 millage, county-average insurance, the median association fee. Every input is cited and the pages refresh nightly.

Price my home correctly or read how we price a home first. Comparing two of these cities because you are moving between them? Start with the number on the home you already own, or call (561) 395-8418.

Monthly cost to own the median house, every city

Own, house and Own, condo are the total monthly cost at the median closed price: principal and interest, property tax with both homestead exemptions, county-average insurance and the median association fee for that city. Medians are published only where at least 10 sales closed. Cash basis means the median buyer in that market does not finance, so principal and interest are left out.

Monthly cost to own the median condo or townhouse

The median condo or townhouse costs $1,822 a month to own in Lighthouse Point and $13,436 in Palm Beach, across the 22 financed cities with at least 10 closed condo sales. The association fee is usually the largest line after the mortgage, and what it covers (insurance on the building, reserves, water, cable) differs by building, so compare fee inclusions before comparing totals.

How much do you need to make to buy a house in South Florida?

To keep the full cost of owning at 30% of gross income, a household needs about $154,800 a year for the median single-family home in Lantana and about $431,500 in Lighthouse Point. The median condo or townhouse takes about $72,900 in Lighthouse Point and about $537,400 in Palm Beach. The figures use the same monthly cost as the tables above: the median closed price with 20% down at 7.3%, property tax with homestead, county-average insurance and the median association fee.

In all 20 financed cities, the median house takes more income than the median household in that city earns. Census income is the 2019-2023 five-year estimate, so it trails today's prices; read the ratio as a gap, not a forecast.

Download the table: income-needed-latest.csv (dated copy: income-needed-2026-11-04.csv). Free to reuse with a link to this page.

Income needed = total monthly cost to own × 12 ÷ 0.30. Thirty percent of gross income is the line HUD uses for a cost-burdened household; lenders apply their own debt-to-income limits, which also count car, student and card payments. Utilities, maintenance and special assessments are not included.

Median household income: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 five-year estimates, by city. Cash market means most purchases there are unfinanced, so a financed income figure would mislead. Estimates for comparison only, not financial advice.

City-by-city comparisons

Each pair page puts two cities side by side: the full cost stack, property tax on the same price, fees and what they include, rents and income, and the year owning beats renting.

Need a pair that is not here? Every city above has the same inputs, so any two can be compared on request.

Where the money goes next

• Rent vs own: the break-even year by city
• Moving from New York: the tax and homestead guide
• HOA fees by city and condo fees by city
• Seller closing costs in Palm Beach County
• What your home is worth

Price my home correctly or read how we price a home first. Two cities, every input shown. The one figure this page cannot show you is your own; that takes a conversation: (561) 395-8418.

Sources and method

Closed prices: Based on information from BeachesMLS for October 2026 and for January 1, 2026 through October 31, 2026, retrieved November 4, 2026. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Medians shown only where n ≥ 10; co-ops excluded. Mortgage: Mortgage News Daily 30-year fixed rate index, 7.3% on 2026-11-03, 20% down. Millage: Palm Beach County and Broward County Property Appraisers, 2025 final rates, most-parcels code per municipality. Homestead: ss. 196.031 and 193.155, F.S.; purchase price treated as year-1 just value. Insurance: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Property Insurance Stability Unit report, July 2026, county averages including wind. Fees: PBP HOA and condo fee indexes from active listings. All figures are estimates for comparison; verify tax with the property appraiser and insurance with a licensed agent. General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Refreshed nightly.

Published by Gia Freer, Broker of Record, PBP Real Estate, LLC · Florida broker license BK689801 · brokerage license CQ1064615. Last updated November 4, 2026.