The Villages, FL vs West Melbourne, FL

The Villages is moderately more affordable than West Melbourne, with a 6.4% lower cost of living index. The Villages scores 111 compared to 118 for West Melbourne, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of West Melbourne can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in The Villages is $1,541/month compared to $1,801/month in West Melbourne — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while The Villages has cheaper rent, West Melbourne actually has lower median home values ($341,500 vs $375,100).

Median household income in The Villages is $76,523 compared to $90,521 in West Melbourne (-15.5%). While West Melbourne is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of The Villages spend roughly 24.2% of their income on rent, more than the 23.9% in West Melbourne.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (72.8°F vs 73.1°F). West Melbourne receives more rainfall at 50.8" per year compared to 43.8" in The Villages.