Fort Meade, FL vs St. Augustine, FL

The cost of living difference between Fort Meade, FL and St. Augustine, FL is dramatic. Fort Meade is 36.3% cheaper than St. Augustine, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fort Meade has a cost index of 74 while St. Augustine sits at 116, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Meade is $919/month compared to $1,560/month in St. Augustine — a 41% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Meade is more affordable at $141,500 median vs $409,200.

Median household income in Fort Meade is $35,131 compared to $80,473 in St. Augustine (-56.3%). While St. Augustine is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Meade spend roughly 31.4% of their income on rent, more than the 23.3% in St. Augustine. The St. Augustine ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.