Marco Island, FL vs Surfside, FL

Surfside is moderately more affordable than Marco Island, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Marco Island scores 168 compared to 154 for Surfside, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Marco Island can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Marco Island is $1,955/month compared to $1,795/month in Surfside — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Surfside is more affordable at $736,800 median vs $866,200.

Median household income in Marco Island is $104,105 compared to $88,938 in Surfside (+17.1%). While Marco Island is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Marco Island spend roughly 22.5% of their income on rent, less than the 24.2% in Surfside.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (75.5°F vs 76.1°F). Surfside receives more rainfall at 57.2" per year compared to 49.6" in Marco Island.