B
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
34%
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 Vero Beach Florida National
Cost of living11199100
Goods & Services98100100
Groceries104105100
Health care10394100
Housing13497100
Transportation10799100
Utilities10198100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Vero Beach, FL

The cost of living in Vero Beach affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Vero Beach is 111, which is 11% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs significantly influence the Vero Beach cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 33.5%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

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

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 13 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Vero Beach. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 38% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 62% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Vero Beach Affordable?

Is Vero Beach affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Vero Beach, for instance, where the median home price falls 50% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 4.9% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Vero Beach flaunting a median household income of $75,875, 6.7% lower than the national norm.

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

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Vero Beach, the housing index is 33.5% higher than the national average.

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Vero Beach, the groceries index is 3.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Vero Beach cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Vero Beach is 12% higher than the Florida average
  • The cost of living in Vero Beach is 11% higher than the national average
  • Vero Beach housing is 34% 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 Vero Beach

See all the best places to live around Vero Beach

Compare Vero 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$106,778$8,898$2,491$3,204
      Renters$48,532$4,044$1,132$1,456
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Vero 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 Vero Beach, homeowners have a median income of $106,778. Using that number, a maximum of $2,491 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $48,532, which means there is a maximum of $1,132 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 Vero Beach National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.05$27.6227.4%
      Beauty Salon $55.75$51.119.1%
      Toothpaste $4.06$4.090.8%
      Shampoo $1.75$1.5413.5%
      Movie $9.43$12.8826.8%
      Yoga $18.02$19.668.3%

      Groceries

      Item Vero Beach National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.56$7.701.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.56$1.666.2%
      Milk $4.83$4.732.0%
      Potatoes $5.92$5.2612.6%
      Pizza $9.52$12.7625.4%
      Beer $11.11$10.555.3%

      Health Care

      Item Vero Beach National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $155.71$140.0611.2%
      Doctor $186.99$153.8221.6%
      Dentist $120.92$123.151.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.92$11.731.6%
      Lipitor $19.52$23.6117.3%

      Housing

      Item Vero Beach National avg. Difference
      Home Price $490,045.00$326,622.0050.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,202.14$2,480.2511.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,373.00$1,444.004.9%

      Transportation

      Item Vero Beach National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.11$3.061.8%
      Tire Balancing $77.98$65.2119.6%

      Utilities

      Item Vero Beach National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $220.86$220.120.3%
      Phone $198.70$195.711.5%
      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.
      Windsor, FL3891011.2%
      Fort Pierce North, FL7,4168910.9%
      Fellsmere, FL5,893909.6%
      Gifford, FL4,628918.9%
      Micco, FL9,300918.7%
      Vero Beach, FL17,53111110.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Myrtle Grove, FL17,531955.4%
      Clemson, SC17,5261088.5%
      Massapequa Park, NY17,53716160.9%
      Camano, WA17,52314040.3%
      Huntington, IN17,5208416.2%
      Vero Beach, FL17,53111110.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.