Mary Esther, FL vs Shady Hills, FL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Shady Hills is 17.4% cheaper than Mary Esther. With a cost index of 86 vs 101, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Shady Hills to Mary Esther should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Mary Esther is $1,517/month compared to $1,054/month in Shady Hills — a 44% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Shady Hills is more affordable at $225,600 median vs $255,300.

Median household income in Mary Esther is $76,510 compared to $63,250 in Shady Hills (+21%). While Mary Esther is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mary Esther spend roughly 23.8% of their income on rent, more than the 20% in Shady Hills.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (69.8°F vs 70.7°F). Mary Esther receives more rainfall at 55.4" per year compared to 51.9" in Shady Hills.