D+
22%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
66%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Delray Beach Florida National
Cost of living12299100
Goods & Services106100100
Groceries108105100
Health care8394100
Housing16697100
Transportation10099100
Utilities10398100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Delray Beach, FL

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Delray Beach? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Delray Beach stands at 122, making it 22% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Delray Beach may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Delray Beach falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Delray Beach, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 66.4% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Delray Beach?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 9 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Delray Beach and this is how they responded. 44% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 56% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Delray Beach Affordable?

Wondering if Delray Beach is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Delray Beach, for example, the median home price is 66% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 67.3% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Delray Beach boasting a median household income of $100,255, which is 23.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Delray Beach?

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Delray Beach, the groceries index registers 8% higher than the national average.

Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In Delray Beach, the transportation index is 0.1% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Delray Beach, healthcare costs are 17.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Delray Beach cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Delray Beach is 24% higher than the Florida average
  • The cost of living in Delray Beach is 22% higher than the national average
  • Delray Beach housing is 66% higher than the national average
  • Florida general sales tax is 18% higher than the national average
  • Florida state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Delray Beach

See all the best places to live around Delray Beach

Compare Delray Beach, FL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$109,228$9,102$2,548$3,277
      Renters$80,605$6,717$1,881$2,418
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Delray Beach, FL, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Delray Beach, homeowners have a median income of $109,228. Using that number, a maximum of $2,548 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $80,605, which means there is a maximum of $1,881 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Florida Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Florida 6% 7.5%

      Florida Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Florida 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Delray Beach National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.48$27.6210.4%
      Beauty Salon $70.25$51.1137.5%
      Toothpaste $4.02$4.091.8%
      Shampoo $1.77$1.5414.8%
      Movie $18.42$12.8843.0%
      Yoga $26.65$19.6635.5%

      Groceries

      Item Delray Beach National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.93$7.702.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.54$1.667.4%
      Milk $4.81$4.731.6%
      Potatoes $5.46$5.263.9%
      Pizza $14.16$12.7610.9%
      Beer $11.77$10.5511.6%

      Health Care

      Item Delray Beach National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $114.79$140.0618.0%
      Doctor $139.71$153.829.2%
      Dentist $95.61$123.1522.4%
      Ibuprofen $11.99$11.732.2%
      Lipitor $16.95$23.6128.2%

      Housing

      Item Delray Beach National avg. Difference
      Home Price $542,224.00$326,622.0066.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,366.66$2,480.2576.1%
      Apartment Rent $2,416.00$1,444.0067.3%

      Transportation

      Item Delray Beach National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.04$3.060.5%
      Tire Balancing $66.36$65.211.8%

      Utilities

      Item Delray Beach National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $230.06$220.124.5%
      Phone $198.85$195.711.6%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lake Worth, FL38,026990.7%
      San Castle, FL4,2111011.1%
      Acacia Villas, FL6591022.3%
      Palm Springs, FL25,7541032.9%
      Watergate, FL3,7881055.0%
      Delray Beach, FL70,77812222.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Saint John, NB70,776n/a 
      Poinciana, FL70,7671011.0%
      Daytona Beach, FL70,799990.5%
      Union City, NJ70,74314140.5%
      Rockville, MD70,83915757.1%
      Delray Beach, FL70,77812222.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.