Key Biscayne, FL vs Isle of Palms, SC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Isle of Palms, SC has a modeled overall cost index 30.2% lower than Key Biscayne, FL.

Key Biscayne, FL · modeled 2BR rent
$3,450 / month
Isle of Palms, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$2,680 / 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 Key Biscayne, FL and Isle of Palms, SC 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $2,121/month in Isle of Palms, SC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $124,552 in Isle of Palms, SC

Regional cost estimates: Key Biscayne, FL uses Miami, FL. Isle of Palms, SC uses Fayetteville, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 30.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,121
Savings
Annual Impact
$25.4K
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.

Key Biscayne, FL

Population:14K
Cost Index:
113.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.62M

Isle of Palms, SC

Population:4K
Cost Index:
79.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$1.58M

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Key Biscayne, FL

The Sunshine State

14K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 14K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Isle of Palms, SC

The Palmetto State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Key Biscayne, FL vs Isle of Palms, SC

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.

Housing
↓ 44.2%
Key Biscayne, FL
$2,723
Isle of Palms, SC
$1,520
Difference
$1,203
less
Other
↓ 28.4%
Key Biscayne, FL
$1,715
Isle of Palms, SC
$1,229
Difference
$487
less
Transportation
↓ 23.3%
Key Biscayne, FL
$1,198
Isle of Palms, SC
$919
Difference
$279
less
Groceries
↓ 14.2%
Key Biscayne, FL
$920
Isle of Palms, SC
$789
Difference
$130
less
All Utilities
↓ 3.4%
Key Biscayne, FL
$442
Isle of Palms, SC
$427
Difference
$15.14
less
Healthcare
↓ 1.4%
Key Biscayne, FL
$502
Isle of Palms, SC
$495
Difference
$6.97
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$2,590
To$2,330
↓ $260
1 Bed
From$2,820
To$2,440
↓ $380
2 Bed
From$3,450
To$2,680
↓ $770
3 Bed
From$4,420
To$3,330
↓ $1,090
Key Biscayne, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,820–$2,820/mo

Isle of Palms, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,440–$2,440/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 Key Biscayne, FL
$5,379
Monthly in Isle of Palms, SC
$2,121
Difference

Home Values

Key Biscayne
Isle of Palms
$1.62M
Median Value
$1.58M
↓ -3.1%
YoY Change
↑ +1.6%
↑ +48.2%
5-Year Change
↑ +85.2%

Homes in Isle of Palms are 3% less expensive than Key Biscayne

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $10.0K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$830
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
6.6%
Rate difference

Key Biscayne, FL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Florida State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Isle of Palms, SC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Carolina State Tax
Effective: 6.6%
$10.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.3%
$47.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,586/month
$103.0K

Additional Tax Information

Key Biscayne, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:0.8%

Isle of Palms, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 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

Key Biscayne
Isle of Palms
48 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
59.8%
Good Air Days
63.7%
100 Very High
Climate Risk
89 Moderate
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌀🌪
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
15 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
15 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Key Biscayne, FL to Isle of Palms, SC

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Isle of Palms, SC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Key Biscayne, FL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Key Biscayne to Isle of Palms moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Isle of Palms, SC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Key Biscayne, FL vs Isle of Palms, SC

How do the cost estimates for Key Biscayne, FL and Isle of Palms, SC compare?

Isle of Palms, SC has a modeled overall cost index 30.2% lower than Key Biscayne, 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 Key Biscayne, FL, the model estimates $124,552 in Isle of Palms, SC. 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 Key Biscayne, FL and Isle of Palms, SC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $3,450/month in Key Biscayne, FL and $2,680/month in Isle of Palms, SC. 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Florida and South Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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