Fort Walton Beach, FL vs Palm Beach Gardens, FL

The cost of living difference between Fort Walton Beach, FL and Palm Beach Gardens, FL is dramatic. Fort Walton Beach is 36.7% cheaper than Palm Beach Gardens, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fort Walton Beach has a cost index of 97 while Palm Beach Gardens sits at 153, 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 Walton Beach is $1,268/month compared to $2,269/month in Palm Beach Gardens — a 44% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fort Walton Beach is more affordable at $296,000 median vs $554,300.

Median household income in Fort Walton Beach is $66,556 compared to $110,563 in Palm Beach Gardens (-39.8%). While Palm Beach Gardens 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 Walton Beach spend roughly 22.9% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Palm Beach Gardens.