Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Upper Marlboro, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lauderdale, FL and Upper Marlboro, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,304 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $2,557 in Upper Marlboro, MD, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,982 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $3,854 in Upper Marlboro, MD, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,660 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $5,151 in Upper Marlboro, MD, rent included.

Fort Lauderdale, FL costs about 29% more than Upper Marlboro, MD, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Fort Lauderdale, FL and Upper Marlboro, MD sit above the global median – Fort Lauderdale, FL by 147%, Upper Marlboro, MD by 91%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.26 $21.26

$19.99 $19.99

6.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 $112

$78.6 $78.6

42.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.33 $10.33

$11.91 $11.91

-13.27%

Cappuccino

$5.12 $5.12

$5.75 $5.75

-10.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.75 $2.75

1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.34 $2.34

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 $5.83

$5.93 $5.93

-1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.43 $6.43

$7.81 $7.81

-17.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.99 $0.99

-3.03%

White Bread (500g)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.49 $4.49

-9.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$5.99 $5.99

-44.24%

Eggs

$3.75 $3.75

$4.96 $4.96

-24.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.76 $11.76

$17.92 $17.92

-34.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.21 $9.21

$10.39 $10.39

-11.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.54 $19.54

$16.53 $16.53

18.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.44 $5.44

$5.06 $5.06

7.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.77 $1.77

-11.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$5.24 $5.24

-13.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$6.67 $6.67

-19.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$3.45 $3.45

5.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.80 $2.80

25.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.26 $2.26

-1.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.45 $2.45

-15.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.84 $9.84

$10.80 $10.80

-8.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 $11.81

$14.10 $14.10

-16.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.66 $2.66

-34.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$4.64 $4.64

-40.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 $2.35

$1.96 $1.96

19.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.1 $71.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.48 $4.48

$4.02 $4.02

11.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.40 $1.40

12.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.21 $22.21

$29.96 $29.96

-25.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.96 $0.96

-10.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$29.0K $29.0K

-10.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.4K $24.4K

$25.6K $25.6K

-4.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$173 $173

$206 $206

-15.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.9 $59.9

$63.6 $63.6

-5.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$73.8 $73.8

-6.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$43.09 $43.09

78.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.24 $13.24

Cinema Ticket

$15.22 $15.22

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$804 $804

$1,767 $1,767

-54.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K $16.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

-31.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.86 $46.86

$54.2 $54.2

-13.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.33 $45.33

$50.1 $50.1

-9.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 $88.2

$96.7 $96.7

-8.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.6 $95.6

$142 $142

-32.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,283 $2,283

$1,425 $1,425

60.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,922 $1,922

$1,181 $1,181

62.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,751 $3,751

$2,601 $2,601

44.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,681 $3,681

$2,206 $2,206

66.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,497 $5,497

$2,411 $2,411

128.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,226 $4,226

$2,643 $2,643

59.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,653 $4,653

$7,931 $7,931

-41.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.48

0.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Fort Lauderdale, FL: July 22, 2026

Last update for Upper Marlboro, MD: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,283 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $1,425 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 70% higher in Upper Marlboro, MD, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $112 in Fort Lauderdale, FL versus $79.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD. Groceries tell a different story – $390 in Fort Lauderdale, FL vs $449 in Upper Marlboro, MD – so Fort Lauderdale, FL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Upper Marlboro, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Lauderdale, FL costs about 29% more than Upper Marlboro, MD, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,956 per month in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $3,836 in Upper Marlboro, MD. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Upper Marlboro, MD, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $112 in Fort Lauderdale, FL and $79.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Fort Lauderdale, FL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Upper Marlboro, MD, where all-in costs run around $2,557, than in Fort Lauderdale, FL at $3,304. In Upper Marlboro, MD it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Lauderdale, FL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Upper Marlboro, MD – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Upper Marlboro, MD. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fort Lauderdale, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.