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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,575 per month in Upper Marlboro, MD vs $3,266 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,879 per month in Upper Marlboro, MD vs $4,978 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,183 per month in Upper Marlboro, MD vs $6,690 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, rent included.

Upper Marlboro, MD is about 21% cheaper than Fort Lauderdale, FL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Upper Marlboro, MD and Fort Lauderdale, FL sit above the global median – Upper Marlboro, MD by 92%, Fort Lauderdale, FL by 144%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.29 $20.29

$21.42 $21.42

-5.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.4 $79.4

$108 $108

-26.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$10.30 $10.30

18.35%

Cappuccino

$5.89 $5.89

$5.15 $5.15

14.37%

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

$2.87 $2.87

$2.77 $2.77

3.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.13 $2.13

5.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$6.18 $6.18

-4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.81 $7.81

$6.58 $6.58

18.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$0.94 $0.94

6.38%

White Bread (500g)

$4.40 $4.40

$4.10 $4.10

7.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$3.30 $3.30

79.09%

Eggs

$4.80 $4.80

$3.89 $3.89

23.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.90 $17.90

$11.47 $11.47

56.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.07 $10.07

$9.15 $9.15

10.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.48 $16.48

$19.29 $19.29

-14.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.65 $5.65

-9.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.50 $1.50

18.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.12 $5.12

$4.37 $4.37

17.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.60 $6.60

$5.27 $5.27

25.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.50 $3.50

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$3.35 $3.35

-17.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.04 $2.04

25.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.90 $10.90

$10.19 $10.19

6.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.84 $13.84

$10.69 $10.69

29.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$1.78 $1.78

52.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.89 $2.89

59.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.40 $2.40

-17.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.1 $72.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.59 $4.59

-12.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.52 $1.52

-7.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.66 $29.66

$22.38 $22.38

32.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.91 $0.91

5.49%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$26.4K $26.4K

10.58%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.0K $25.0K

3.43%

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

$208 $208

$171 $171

21.50%

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

$63.4 $63.4

$58.3 $58.3

8.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.5 $73.5

$70.0 $70.0

5.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.02 $43.02

$77.2 $77.2

-44.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.45 $13.45

Cinema Ticket

$15.26 $15.26

$14.91 $14.91

2.35%

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

$1,747 $1,747

$832 $832

109.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$16.2K $16.2K

48.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 $54.0

$46.81 $46.81

15.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.80 $49.80

$45.23 $45.23

10.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$87.3 $87.3

9.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$94.0 $94.0

54.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,414 $1,414

$2,271 $2,271

-37.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,150 $1,150

$1,940 $1,940

-40.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,666 $2,666

$3,715 $3,715

-28.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,244 $2,244

$3,607 $3,607

-37.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,321 $2,321

$5,416 $5,416

-57.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,257 $2,257

$4,105 $4,105

-45.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,135 $8,135

$4,385 $4,385

85.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.48

6.53

-0.77%

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

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

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,414 in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $2,271 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 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 86% 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 $79 in Upper Marlboro, MD versus $108 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Groceries tell a different story – $446 in Upper Marlboro, MD vs $385 in Fort Lauderdale, FL – 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

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

Fort Lauderdale, FL costs about 27% 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 $3,863 per month in Upper Marlboro, MD and $4,899 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. 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 $79.0 in Upper Marlboro, MD and $108 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Fort Lauderdale, FL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,575 in Upper Marlboro, MD and $3,266 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

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.