Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Walton Beach, FL and Abilene, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Walton Beach, FL and Abilene, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,130 in Fort Walton Beach, FL versus $2,025 in Abilene, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,445 in Fort Walton Beach, FL versus $3,076 in Abilene, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,760 in Fort Walton Beach, FL versus $4,127 in Abilene, TX.

Living in Fort Walton Beach, FL is roughly 5% more expensive than in Abilene, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Walton Beach, FL 59% above, Abilene, TX 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.26 $15.26

$13.39 $13.39

13.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.1 $86.1

$54.1 $54.1

59.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 $10.59

$8.91 $8.91

18.86%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$4.80 $4.80

10.00%

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

$2.81 $2.81

$1.79 $1.79

56.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.97 $1.97

1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 $5.03

$3.97 $3.97

26.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.46 $6.46

$7.98 $7.98

-19.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.90 $0.90

13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.99 $2.99

-1.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$4.84 $4.84

-51.65%

Eggs

$2.64 $2.64

$7.95 $7.95

-66.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.03 $12.03

$11.50 $11.50

4.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.59 $11.59

$10.02 $10.02

15.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.38 $15.38

$13.58 $13.58

13.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$4.66 $4.66

-22.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.44 $1.44

20.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$4.29 $4.29

-18.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.37 $3.37

3.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$3.69 $3.69

-60.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.93 $2.93

-32.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 $1.67

$2.21 $2.21

-24.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$3.27 $3.27

-36.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.22 $8.22

$8.60 $8.60

-4.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$11.46 $11.46

-27.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.69 $1.69

24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.91 $2.91

49.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.54 $1.54

27.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.7 $50.7

$45.32 $45.32

11.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 $5.93

$2.91 $2.91

103.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.72 $1.72

-3.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.70 $44.70

$57.3 $57.3

-22.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.78 $0.78

6.41%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$30.2K $30.2K

-11.70%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$22.7K $22.7K

11.07%

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

$149 $149

$190 $190

-21.27%

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

$43.48 $43.48

$46.02 $46.02

-5.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 $67.3

$63.8 $63.8

5.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.83 $46.83

$14.76 $14.76

217.28%

Cinema Ticket

$13.31 $13.31

$11.94 $11.94

11.47%

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

$813 $813

$867 $867

-6.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

0.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.15 $30.15

$53.9 $53.9

-44.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.85 $19.85

$34.32 $34.32

-42.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.4 $98.4

$90.2 $90.2

9.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$108 $108

-6.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,656 $1,656

$1,120 $1,120

47.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 $1,019

$887 $887

14.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,723 $2,723

$1,720 $1,720

58.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,173 $2,173

$1,611 $1,611

34.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,896 $4,896

$1,687 $1,687

190.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,084 $5,084

$1,696 $1,696

199.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,272 $3,272

$3,268 $3,268

0.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.49

0.31%

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

Last update for Fort Walton Beach, FL: July 13, 2026

Last update for Abilene, TX: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,656 in Fort Walton Beach, FL and $1,120 in Abilene, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Walton Beach, FL pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $86.0 in Fort Walton Beach, FL vs $54.0 in Abilene, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $336 vs $384, with Fort Walton Beach, FL cheaper for home cooking.

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 Walton Beach, FL vs Abilene, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fort Walton Beach, FL and Abilene, TX differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,130 vs $2,025 including rent). Abilene, TX is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 0% higher in Fort Walton Beach, FL, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,656 in Fort Walton Beach, FL versus $1,120 in Abilene, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Abilene, TX – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $86.0 in Fort Walton Beach, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,130 per month in Fort Walton Beach, FL versus $2,025 in Abilene, TX – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,025 in Abilene, TX versus $2,130 in Fort Walton Beach, FL, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Abilene, TX but tight or insufficient in Fort Walton Beach, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Abilene, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Abilene, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.