Cortez, FL vs St. Augustine, FL

St. Augustine is moderately more affordable than Cortez, with a 9.1% lower cost of living index. Cortez scores 126 compared to 116 for St. Augustine, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Cortez can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Cortez is $1,912/month compared to $1,560/month in St. Augustine — a 23% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Augustine has cheaper rent, Cortez actually has lower median home values ($388,500 vs $409,200).

Median household income in Cortez is $76,915 compared to $80,473 in St. Augustine (-4.4%). St. Augustine offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Cortez spend roughly 29.8% of their income on rent, more than the 23.3% in St. Augustine.