Boca Raton, FL vs West Palm Beach, FL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Palm Beach, FL has a modeled overall cost index 0.4% lower than Boca Raton, FL.

Boca Raton, FL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,915 / month
West Palm Beach, FL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,375 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Boca Raton, FL and West Palm Beach, FL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Boca Raton, FL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $28.41/month in West Palm Beach, FL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,659 in West Palm Beach, FL

Regional cost estimates: Boca Raton, FL uses Hialeah, FL. West Palm Beach, FL uses Hialeah, FL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.4%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$28.41

Savings

Annual Impact

$341

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Boca Raton, FL

Population:100K

Cost Index:

108.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$669K

West Palm Beach, FL

Population:124K

Cost Index:

108.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$529K

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Boca Raton, FL

The Sunshine State

100K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 100K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

West Palm Beach, FL

The Sunshine State

124K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 124K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Boca Raton, FL vs West Palm Beach, FL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Boca Raton, FL	West Palm Beach, FL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,571/mo	$2,560/mo	↓ $11.19less	0.4%
Other	$1,693/mo	$1,686/mo	↓ $7.37less	0.4%
Transportation	$1,285/mo	$1,280/mo	↓ $5.60less	0.4%
Groceries	$962/mo	$960/mo	↓ $2.10less	0.2%
Healthcare	$525/mo	$524/mo	↓ $1.14less	0.2%
All Utilities	$463/mo	$462/mo	↓ $1.01less	0.2%

Housing

↓ 0.4%

Boca Raton, FL

$2,571

West Palm Beach, FL

$2,560

Difference

$11.19

less

Other

↓ 0.4%

Boca Raton, FL

$1,693

West Palm Beach, FL

$1,686

Difference

$7.37

less

Transportation

↓ 0.4%

Boca Raton, FL

$1,285

West Palm Beach, FL

$1,280

Difference

$5.60

less

Groceries

↓ 0.2%

Boca Raton, FL

$962

West Palm Beach, FL

$960

Difference

$2.10

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.2%

Boca Raton, FL

$525

West Palm Beach, FL

$524

Difference

$1.14

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.2%

Boca Raton, FL

$463

West Palm Beach, FL

$462

Difference

$1.01

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,270

To$1,885

↓ $385

1 Bed

From$2,445

To$2,000

↓ $445

2 Bed

From$2,915

To$2,375

↓ $540

3 Bed

From$3,790

To$3,075

↓ $715

Boca Raton, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,610–$2,710/mo

West Palm Beach, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,530–$2,410/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Boca Raton, FL

$7,472

Monthly in West Palm Beach, FL

$28.41

Difference

Home Values

Boca Raton

West Palm Beach

$669K

Median Value

$529K

↓ -3.3%

YoY Change

↓ -4.1%

↑ +43%

5-Year Change

↑ +51.4%

$231K - $1.01M

Price Range

$338K - $787K

Homes in West Palm Beach are 21% less expensive than Boca Raton

Calculate payment - Boca Raton Calculate payment - West Palm Beach

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Boca Raton, FL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Florida State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

West Palm Beach, FL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Florida State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Boca Raton, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%

Property Tax:0.8%

West Palm Beach, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Boca Raton

West Palm Beach

48 Good

Air Quality

48 Good

59.8%

Good Air Days

59.8%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌅🌀

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.3°F

22 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.3°F

22 days

Heat Days >95°F

22 days

Before moving from Boca Raton, FL to West Palm Beach, FL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Palm Beach, FL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Boca Raton, FL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Boca Raton to West Palm Beach moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to West Palm Beach, FL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Boca Raton, FL vs West Palm Beach, FL

How do the cost estimates for Boca Raton, FL and West Palm Beach, FL compare?

West Palm Beach, FL has a modeled overall cost index 0.4% lower than Boca Raton, FL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Boca Raton, FL, the model estimates $149,659 in West Palm Beach, FL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Boca Raton, FL and West Palm Beach, FL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,915/month in Boca Raton, FL and $2,375/month in West Palm Beach, FL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.