Cocoa Beach, FL vs New Smyrna Beach, FL

Cocoa Beach, FL and New Smyrna Beach, FL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.6% difference in their overall index. Cocoa Beach scores 120 while New Smyrna Beach scores 114 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Cocoa Beach is $1,555/month compared to $1,638/month in New Smyrna Beach — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Cocoa Beach has cheaper rent, New Smyrna Beach actually has lower median home values ($365,900 vs $451,800).

Median household income in Cocoa Beach is $82,381 compared to $78,373 in New Smyrna Beach (+5.1%). While Cocoa Beach is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Cocoa Beach spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, less than the 25.1% in New Smyrna Beach.