Fort Myers Beach, FL vs Palmetto Estates, FL

Fort Myers Beach, FL and Palmetto Estates, FL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.6% difference in their overall index. Fort Myers Beach scores 138 while Palmetto Estates scores 134 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 Fort Myers Beach is $1,693/month compared to $2,015/month in Palmetto Estates — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fort Myers Beach has cheaper rent, Palmetto Estates actually has lower median home values ($412,200 vs $611,600).

Median household income in Fort Myers Beach is $90,833 compared to $82,199 in Palmetto Estates (+10.5%). While Fort Myers 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 Fort Myers Beach spend roughly 22.4% of their income on rent, less than the 29.4% in Palmetto Estates.