Cost of Living in Marco Island, FL

An Overview of Cost of Living in Marco Island, FL

Understanding the cost of living in Marco Island can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Marco Island cost of living index is 162, which is 62% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Marco Island is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Marco Island falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Marco Island cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 201.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Marco Island?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 8 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Marco Island and this is how they responded. 63% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 38% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Marco Island Affordable?

Is Marco Island an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Marco Island, the median home price is 262.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 58.8% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Marco Island come in at $84,288, which is 52.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Marco Island?

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Marco Island, the transportation index is 7.4% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower 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 Marco Island, the housing index is 201.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Marco Island 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.