Delray Beach, FL vs West Palm Beach, FL

West Palm Beach is moderately more affordable than Delray Beach, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Delray Beach scores 129 compared to 121 for West Palm Beach, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Delray Beach can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Delray Beach is $1,914/month compared to $1,709/month in West Palm Beach — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: West Palm Beach is more affordable at $369,800 median vs $386,700.

Median household income in Delray Beach is $79,393 compared to $69,261 in West Palm Beach (+14.6%). While Delray 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 Delray Beach spend roughly 28.9% of their income on rent, less than the 29.6% in West Palm Beach.